Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Five: Captain B. L. Rigden, Cornwall (Fortress) Engineers and 130th Field Company Royal Engineers, who was taken Prisoner of War in France; was wounded by gun shot in North Russia; and was Mentioned in Despatches for his services with the Military Works Department in Mesopotamia

British War and Victory Medals (Capt. B. L. Rigden.); General Service 1918-62, 1 clasp, Iraq (B. L. Rigden.); Defence and War Medals 1939-45, the first three sometime lacquered, generally very fin and better (5) £240-£280

M.I.D. London Gazette 9 September 1921:
‘In recognition of distinguished ands gallant services and devotion to duty with the Mesopotamian Expeditionary Force.’

Bernard Loveless Rigden was born in 1892, and resided at Canterbury, Kent. He enlisted as a Sapper into the Royal Engineers and was commissioned Second Lieutenant, No. 3 Works Company, Cornwall (Fortress) Engineers on 7 May 1915. He was serving with 130th Field Company R.E., in France when he was captured and taken prisoner of war on 17 April 1918, and was repatriated on 13 December 1918. He subsequently served with the North Russian Expeditionary Force, and was wounded by gun shot to the Right foot in July 1919, being admitted to No. 82 Casualty Clearing Station, Bakharitza, North Russia. He relinquished his commission from the Cornwall (Fortress) Engineers on 30 September 1921.

Rigden subsequently served in Mesopotamia attached to the Military Works Department, and for his services he was Mentioned in Despatches. He was again commissioned in the Second World War, to be Lieutenant on 24 May 1940, and was promoted temporary Captain on 1 March 1942. He died in Faversham, Kent, on 1 May 1961.