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Auction: 24002 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 196

(x) A 1919 O.B.E. group of seven awarded to Lieutenant-Colonel W.P. Rigden, Royal Garrison Artillery, who commanded the 2nd (Home Counties) Brigade during the Great War and afterwards was heavily involved with creation of the repatriated Prisoners of War camp at Namur

The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, O.B.E. (Military), Officer's 1st Type breast Badge, the reverse hallmarked London 1919; British War and Victory Medals with MID oak leaf (Major W. P. Rigden); Territorial Force War Medal (Major W. P. Rigden. R.A.); Coronation 1911; Jubilee 1935; Territorial Decoration, with top riband bar, hallmarked for 1919, light contact marks, otherwise good very fine (7)

O.B.E. London Gazette 3 June 1919.

William Percy Rigden was born at Lewes, Sussex in 1877, the son of George and Olive Rigden of School Hill, Lewes. He was educated at a private school in Tunbridge Wells before being sent to Winchester College. Upon completing his education, Rigden qualified as a solicitor practising on his account in London in partnership with his brother. While at college he was a keen member of the cadets and was commissioned into the Lewes Company of the Sussex Royal Garrison Artillery (Volunteers) on 11 December 1895 as Second Lieutenant.

Rising to become second-in-command of the 1st (Home Counties) Brigade, Royal Field Artillery he was appointed the commanding officer of the 2nd (Home Counties) Brigade, Royal Field Artillery in 1915. Not posted to France until 1918, Rigden was attached to the Headquarters Staff at Cologne and was later given charge of demobilisation there. While here he was involved in the formation of the repatriated Prisoners of War camp at Namur of which he was Commandant.

Awarded a 'mention' to go with his O.B.E., Namur was to be Rigden's last posting and he left the military on 23 April 1920. Returning to Britain, he settled at The Priory, Langley, Buckinghamshire where he died on 27 May 1922. His obituary in the West Sussex Gazette on 8 June 1922 notes the affection displays by his men for their deceased commander, stating:

'Two men- ex-bandsman J. A. Buddle, who formerly served under him in the 1st H.C.B., R.F.A., and ex-gunner B. Olden, also a member of his company [SIC]- both unemployed, walked from Brighton to Lewes to pay their tribute to his memory.'

Sold together with a copied newspaper extract.

Subject to 5% tax on Hammer Price in addition to 20% VAT on Buyer’s Premium.

Sold for
£580

Starting price
£160