Pte 52811 Edward Sutton Rigby

• Age: 20
• From: Southport, Lancs
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 17th Btn
• K.I.A Tuesday 6th March 1917
• Commemorated at: Agny New Military Cem
  Panel Ref: F.7

Edward Sutton was born in Southport in 1896 the 3rd son of Richard Rigby and his wife Ann Jane (nee Sutton) of 137 Chester Road, Southport. They had married in 1881 in Ormskirk Registration district. 

The 1901 Census shows the family living at 74, Old Park Lane, Southport. His father, Richard, is aged 39, born in Southport in 1862 is a stonemason, his mother, Ann Jane, is also aged 39, and born in Southport and has no occupation listed. They have five children declared in the household at the time of the Census, all of whom were born in Southport; Richard aged 15, born 1886 is a coal merchants clerk, Sarah aged 12, born 1889, Thomas aged 10, born 1891, Edward aged 4, born 1897 and Herbert aged 2 , born 1899.

The 1911 Census shows the family now living at 3 Hereford Road, Southport. His father, Richard, is aged 49, and is still employed as a stonemason, his mother, Ann Jane, is also aged 49, and has no occupation listed. They state that they have been married for 28 years and have had eight children, of which three had died. At the taking of the Census, they have five children still living in the family home; Richard aged 25, is an electrician, Sarah aged 22, has no occupation listed, Thomas aged 20, is a stonemason with his father, Edward aged 14, and Herbert aged 11 are both at school.  

Edward was educated at Christ Church Higher Grade School and prior to the war he was employed by Greenwoods Estate Agents on Bold Street.

He was serving with the 17th Battalion of The King's Liverpool Regiment as Private 52811 when he was killed  in action on 06th March 1917, aged 20.

Edward now rests at Agny New Military Cemetery in France at plot F7 where his headstone bears the poignant epitaph:

"LOST AWHILE OUR TREASURED LOVE. GAINED FOREVER SAFE ABOVE".

Agny New Military Cemetery was begun by French troops, and used by Commonwealth units and field ambulances from March 1916 to June 1917. Two further burials were made in April 1918, and in 1923-24, 137 graves were brought in from the battlefields east of Arras. The 40 French graves have been removed. Agny Military Cemetery contains 408 Commonwealth burials of the First World War, 118 of them unidentified, and five German graves. The cemetery was designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens. 

News of his death was featured in a newspaper article as follows:

"On Thursday evening Mr and Mrs Rigby, 3 Hereford Road, Southport received the sad information that their third son Pte E.S. Rigby of The King's (Liverpool Regiment) had been killed in France on the 6th inst. The news was received in a letter from a chaplain who stated that he officiated at the interrment of Pte Rigby the day after he was killed. Pte Rigby who was in his 21st year was a popular young fellow in the Meols Cop and High Park district, where he was very well known. and the news of his death will be received with general regret. Previous to enlisting in December 1914, he was engaged with Greenwood's estate agents in Bold Street. He proceeded on active services about eight months ago. He was a member of Churchtown Congretional Church and he attended the Christ Church Higher Grade School. A brother, Tom Rigby is serving with the Duke of Lancaster's Own Yeomanry".

The Southport Visiter dated 17th March 1917 reported;

Private Rigby was the third son of Mr & Mrs Rigby of 3 Hereford Rd, Southport. Previous to enlisting in December 1914, he was engaged at Greenwoods Estate Agents in Bold Street. He was a member of the Churchtown Congregational Church and attended Christ Church Higher Grade School. A brother Pte Tom Rigby, at the time served with the Duke of Lancaster's Own Yeomanry.

Edward’s death was also reported in the Liverpool Daily Post 19th March 1917;

SOUTHPORT CASUALTIES

The death in action is reported of Private Edward S Rigby, KLR son of Mr and Mrs R Rigby, 3 Hereford Road, Southport. He was twenty years old and joined the army immediately war commenced. 

Edward is commemorated on the Churchtown Congregational Church Memorial at Churchtown URC on Botanic Road. 

He is also commemorated on the family headstone at St Cuthbert's Church in Southport which tells of the tragic loss of their children as follows:

Edward Towers Rigby Died May 19th 1892 aged 8 years and 6 months.

Edward Towers Tidyman Rigby Died 03rd December 1894 aged 1 year and 7 months.

Sarah Sutton Rigby Died 22nd January 1917 aged 28. 

Sarah died just 5 weeks before Edward was killed in action. Edward's name is recorded below Sarah's on the headstone.

Edward's loss was not the only one that the family had to deal with as his brother, Thomas Sutton Rigby, was killed in action on 13th September 1917, aged 27. He was serving with the Howe Battalion of the Royal Naval Reserve. He now rests at Orchard Dump Cemetery, Arleux-en-Gohelle, France where his headstone bears the same poignant epitaph as his brother:

"LOST AWHILE OUR TREASURED LOVE. GAINED FOREVER SAFE ABOVE".

Soldiers Effects and Pensions to father Richard and mother Ann Jane.

The Souport Visiter reported 20th September 1917, the death of his brother Tom and sister Sarah;

Thomas Sutton Rigby was the second son of Mr & Mrs Richard Rigby of 3 Hereford Rd, Southport. A letter from the chaplain stated: "I write to offer you my deep sympathy with you in your great loss. While your son was on duty in the front line yesterday morning, he was hit by a trench mortar and mortally wounded, death taking place immediately. He was laid to rest just behind the spot where he fell, and I conducted the burial service over him, commending to the Father's mercy, all his loved ones." A B Rigby joined the Duke of Lancaster's Own Yeomanry in October 1916 and was transferred to the Royal Naval Division just before going to France in July 1917. Prior to enlistment he was in business with his father as a stonemason in Windsor Road. Another son of Mr & Mrs Rigby , their third son, Private Edward Rigby, fell in action in France on 6th March 1917. Their daughter Sarah Rigby also died on January 22nd.

We currently have no further information on Edward Sutton Rigby, If you have or know someone who may be able to add to the history of this soldier, please contact us.