大象传媒

This story was submitted to the People's War website by a volunteer of the Stoke CSV Action Desk on behalf of Geoff Rigby and was added with his permsission. The author fully understands the site's terms and conditions.

Geoffs father,Wilfred Rigby, was a Land Sergeant in the Britsh Army and was only 26 when he died. Wilfred's wife, Geoffrey's mother, recieved 拢35 8s 0d war gratuity in 1946 along with many telegrams and letters of condolence, including one from Doulton. Geoff was born a month after Wilfred died and knows little of his father's military history. He recently brought down a box from the attic which was full of photographs, love letters and birthday cards Wifred sent to his wife. There was also letters and documents relating to wilfred's death that have helped to build up a hazy picture of events at that time.
He had worked at the Doulton factory as a 'placer' before being conscripted to the North Staffs Regiment. His army number was 5051273 and was buried at Overloon, Holland.
In 1966, twenty years later, Geoff's mother came across an article in the Sentinel advertising a trip organised by the British Royal Legion to Holland to visit the war graves. It was the 100th pilgrimage organised by the Netherlands War Graves Committee. Geoff and his mother went on a four day visit to Holland and stayed with Mrs Harmsen and her family in Nymegen. Geoff was able to visit his father's final resting place and take part in a service of rememberance.
He has not been back to Overloon since, but has hopes to return in the future.

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