Orders, Decorations and Medals

The mounted group of five miniature dress medals attributed to Major P. G. Rigby, Canadian Infantry, late Sherwood Forresters and King’s African Rifles, East and West Africa 1887-1900, 2 clasps, Niger 1897, 1897-98; Royal Niger Company Medal 1886-97, 1 clasp, Nigeria 1886-1897, silver; Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 4 clasps, Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Johannesburg, Diamond Hill; King’s South Africa 1901-02, 2 clasps; Africa General Service 1902-56, 1 clasp, Nandi 1905-06, mounted as worn, some edge bruising and contact marks, very fine, scarce; together with a Canadian Memorial Cross, G.V.R. (Major P. Rigby), this last extremely fine (6) £350-400

Percy George Rigby was born in London on 24 December 1871, the younger son of Major-General Christopher Palmer Rigby. He was educated at Marlborough College and the Royal Military College, Sandhurst and received a commission in the Sherwood Forresters in November 1890. In 1896 he was attached to the Royal Niger Company for the Bida-Ilorin Expedition; he was afterwards seconded for service with the West African Frontier Force, with the rank of Captain in 1897. He next served in the Boer War, during which he was in command of his Battalion for four months. For his services he was specially recommended by his C.O. for ‘repeatedly volunteering for special and dangerous service’. He was twice mentioned in despatches (1900 and 1902) and in 1900 received the brevet of Major. In 1902 he served in the Pekin Legation Guard and in 1905 was seconded for service with the 4th Battalion K.A.R., commanding the battalion with the temporary rank of Lieutenant-Colonel. He retired from the service in 1911 and took to apple growing at ‘Sans Souci, Kootenay Lake, British Columbia. With the onset of war, he rejoined the Army, serving with the 7th Battalion Canadian Infantry (British Columbia Regiment). He was killed in action on 10 March 1915, being shot through the heart by a sniper, near La Boutillerie, Armentieres, France. He was buried in the Rue-David Military Cemetery, Fleurbaix.