M/21756 Sgt Maj Fred Rigby, ASC

M/21756 Sergeant Major Fred Rigby of the Army Service Corps, died on the 19th August 1916. He was 32 years old, the Husband of M. A. Rigby, of 85A, Upper Church Path, Landport, Portsmouth. He is buried in Barlin Communal Cemetery Extension in France.

Fred was a regular soldier, as indicated by his medal inde card which records that he arrived overseas on the 13th August 1914. The card indicates that his 1914 Star was inscribed with the rank A/WO I (which is Acting Warrant Offcier 1st Class), whilst his British War and Victory Medals bore the rank of serjeant. The M/ prefix of his number indicates motor transport, and there is a reference on the card to the 1st Division. The fact that "died" is written on his card, also suggests that he died as a result of sickness or accident rather than being killed in action or dying of wounds.

At the going down of the sun, and in the morning, WE WILL REMEMBER THEM.

Sources:

Ancestry (MIC)
Soldiers Died in The Great War
Army Service Numbers
The Commonwealth War Graves Commission

T4/238040 Sgt Gwilym Guy Collins, ASC

T4/238040 Sergeant Gwilym Guy Collins of the Army Service Corps, died in Gibraltar on the 6th January 1918. He was 22 years old, the son of Francis James and Florence Collins of "Southview," 16 Castle Road, North Finchley, Middlesex. Gwylm (or Gwyllm, according to Soldiers Died in the Great War), was born in Finchley and enlisted at Barnet.

Sergeant Collins is buried in Gibraltar's North Front Cemetery which "was used throughout the 1914-1918 War for the burial of sailors and soldiers who died on ships passing Gibraltar, or in the Military Hospital" (CWGC).

At the going down of the sun, and in the morning, WE WILL REMEMBER THEM.

Sources:

Ancestry.co.uk (MIC)
Army Ancestry
Army Service Numbers 1881-1918
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
Soldiers Died in The Great War

SS/4480 Pte Thomas Russell Maddams, ASC

SS/4480 Private Thomas Russell Maddams of the 1st Labour Company, Army Service Corps, died on the 30th November 1914 in France. He had arrived there on 26th August 1914 and is buried at St Marie Cemetery, Le Havre.

Thomas was born at Thornton Heath in Surrey and enlisted at Croydon. There is scant military information about him - only his medal index card appears to survive - but both this source, and Soldiers Died in The Great War state that he died on 30th November (as opposed to being killed in action or dying of wounds). It seems likely therefore that he died as a result of either sickness or an accident.

Thomas's birth was registered in the June quarter of 1879 and he married Maud Violet George in the December quarter of 1908. The couple appear to have had at least one child - Francis L Maddams - whose birth would be registered in the first quarter of 1915

At the going down of the sun, and in the morning, WE WILL REMEMBER THEM.

Sources:

Ancestry.co.uk (MIC, Free BMD)
Army Ancestry
Army Service Numbers 1881-1918
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
Soldiers Died in The Great War