William RIGG, PRIVATE 5670

* Born: 4Q1891 at Leeming
* Son of: Edward and Sarah Ann Rigg
* Local Address: Ulnaby Hall, High Coniscliffe
* Father's Occupation: Horseman on farm
* Siblings: Two brothers, one sister, position in family 3
* Pre-War Occupation: Horseman on farm
* Enlisted: 2 December 1915 at West Hartlepool
* Regiment: 1st/5th Durham Light Infantry
* Buried: La Neuville Communal Cemetery, Corbie, France

William Rigg was born in 1891 at Leeming, near Bedale, the son of Edward Rigg, a horseman on a farm, and his wife Sarah Ann. Edward Rigg was from Baldersby, North Yorkshire but Sarah Ann was originally from Haughton-le-Skerne, where she and Edward had married in 1884. In 1901 the Rigg family were living in the Village Street in Leeming, and in 1911 at Ulnaby Hall, High Coniscliffe where both Edward Rigg and his son William were employed as farm horsemen.

Although not lengthy, William Rigg's service record exists so we know that he enlisted on 2 December 1915 at West Hartlepool aged 24 years and 2 months and was placed in Reserve Class B. This means that he attested voluntarily under the Derby Scheme, and agreed to immediate service, although he was not in fact required immediately. The Derby Scheme was introduced by the Earl of Derby in the autumn of 1915 to encourage voluntary enlistment at a time when numbers were dwindling. Men who joined under the scheme were paid one day's wages, placed in the Class B Army reserve and released to civilian life until needed by the Army. It was not a great success and the following year full conscription was introduced.

William gave his address as Okerside Farm, Castle Eden. His medical examination showed that he was 5ft 10in tall, with a 35?in chest, expandable by 2in. He weighed 10st 2lb, so like many young men of the time, was not overburdened with excess fat. William's sight test showed that he was somewhat short-sighted. He gave the name of his next of kin as his father Edward Rigg, also of Okerside Farm. William joined 5/DLI from Army Reserve Class B on 1 August 1916, eight months after being placed on reserve.

William's service record shows that he went to France on 5 August 1916, where 5/DLI was in action between Armentires and Ypres. In mid-August the battalion moved south to Albert in the Somme region. During September and October the battalion was repeatedly in action during the Battle of the Somme. At the end of November the battalion moved back to camp at Baizieux, 8km west of Albert, for one month's training. In January the men were back in the trenches.

On 30 December 1916 William Rigg was admitted to 21 CCS (Casualty Clearing Station) suffering from pneumonia. 21 CCS was situated at Corbie, close to Amiens in northern France. At the time the men of the battalion were enjoying a rest period in Baizieux. Corbie is only 8km south of Baizieux and would have been the nearest Casualty Clearing Station. The next entry in William Rigg's service record states that he died on 17 January 1917 from tubercular bronchopneumonia contracted on active service. He was buried at La Neuville Communal Cemetery, in Corbie.

William Rigg's service record contains details of various administrative matters that the Army dealt with following his death. Six days after his death the authorities confirmed that he had left no will, and this fact was placed on record.

On 23 January 1918, Edward Rigg wrote and asked for a photo of his son's grave. An acknowledgement was sent the following day but there is no record as to whether Edward Rigg received the photograph he had so poignantly requested.

In July 1919, a letter was sent from Infantry Records, DLI Section at York to William Rigg's father Edward asking for details of his son's next of kin. Edward confirmed that these were himself and his wife living at Springwell Cottage, Hart Station, West Hartlepool, his brothers George Edward, 33, and Robert Rigg, 22, and his sister Jane Rigg, 35. Jane and Robert lived with their parents at Springwell Cottage, George Edward's address was nearby at East Grange, Hart where he lived with his wife Ethel Jane Rigg and their five children, all under 10.

In a document dated 30 January 1918 the War Office wrote to instruct the officer in charge of the Infantry Records Department that any articles of personal property belonging to Pte William Rigg, as well as any medals should be despatched to Mr Edward Rigg of Springwell Farm, Hart. William's British War Medal was sent to his father on 9 February 1921, over four years after Williams death. William Rigg's Medal Index Card records that he was also awarded the Victory Medal.

William Rigg is commemorated in the Book of Remembrance for 5/DLI, at St Thomas's Church, High Street, Stockton-on-Tees. He is also commemorated on the Rigg family headstone in the churchyard at St AndrewÕs Church, Haughton-le-Skerne, inscribed as below:

IN
LOVING MEMORY OF
SARAH ANN RIGG
DIED 24TH DEC. 1933
AGED 79 YEARS
ALSO EDWARD
DEAR HUSBAND OF ABOVE
DIED 11TH DEC, 1939
AGED 79 YEARS
ALSO THEIR SON
WILLIAM (5TH D.L.I.)
KILLED O.A.S. 14TH JAN. 1917
AGED 25 YEARS
ALSO ROBERT RIGG
SON OF THE ABOVE
DIED 2ND MAR. 1978
AGED 81 YEARS

Although the family had lived in various places in North Yorkshire and South Durham, there is no evidence that William Rigg ever lived in Haughton-le-Skerne. However, his mother Sarah Ann was born in the village and spent her early life in Haughton-le-Skerne. Both Sarah Ann and her husband are buried in the village.