ROBERT HAROLD RIGBY 

Robert was the younger son of Howard Rigby (1880 - 1924) and Ursula Alberta nee Alcock (1885 - 1970) and brother to John (Jack), Marion, Nancy, Pamela Mary (1919–1978) and Margaret Rigby. He was stepbrother to Thomas Douglas Rigby  (1902–1970) and Vera Rigby (1904–1981). His mother came from Christchurch in New Zealand. Howard Rigby had a business as a corn and seed merchant in Alsager.

Robert was born on 22nd December 1915, in Alsager, and attended Sandbach School. On 4th April 1924, when Robert was eight years old, his father Howard died. (His mother Ursula did not remarry until 1965, when she was aged 80. Ursula A Rigby married Henry Heath.)

In 1924, the address for Howard Rigby was Hafod, Alsager. By September 1939, the family home was at 46 Fields Road, Alsager. Robert had joined the RAF on a short service commission in March 1939 and carried out his initial training at 10 E&RFTS Yatesbury, moving to 5 FTS Sealand. He joined 236 Squadron at Stradishall on 6th November 1939.

On 18th July 1940, his aircraft (a Bristol Blenheim L6639) failed to return from a reconnaissance operation over Le Havre. Robert and Sergeant Donald Duncan MacKinnon took off from RAF Thorney Island, Emsworth, Hampshire at 11:20 am. The weather was bad, and intense flak was encountered over Cap de la Hague though it is believed the aircraft was shot down by a Me109 around 12.15 near Villerville, Calvados, Normandy, France. Both men died.

Robert's body was washed ashore at St. Adresse, north of Le Havre port. He is buried in Sainte Marie Cemetery, Le Havre, France.  



Compiled by Shena Lewington (July 2026)