Rye soldier should have had more protection says father
The Father of Rye soldier John Rigby has said troops serving in Iraq should be given better protective gear to shield them.
The Father of Rye soldier John Rigby has said troops serving in Iraq should be given better protective gear to shield them.
Corporal Rigby was described as "an astonishing and charismatic leader" by a coroner at an inquest in Wiltshire last week.
Corporal Rigby died in June, while serving in Iraq, after being hit by shrapnel from a road-side bomb while taking part in an armoured patrol.
His twin brother Will, who served alonhgside him in 4th Battalion The Rifles, was at his side when he died on his 24th birthday.
His family had said they did not blame the Army and that John had died doing what he loved.
But father Doug raised concerns over the level of protection afforded to soldiers acting as top-cover sentries.
A top MoD officer admitted that it was a matter of "huge concern".
Coroner David Masters recorded a verdict of unlawful killing when an inquest was held at Trowbridge, in Wiltshire, last week.
The inquest heard how Corporal Rigby died during a period of intense fighting when his regiment was at the forefront of efforts to quell the insurgency in order to hand over Basra Palace to local control.
He was in the top-cover sentry position of an armoured vehicle when the wire-controlled explosive device was activated.
A thin piece of shrapnel pierced his helmet and penetrated his skull. The cause of death was given as fragmentation wounds to the head.
Rifleman William Long told the inquest: "I ducked my head down - there was dust and debris everywhere.
"I looked around and saw `Riggers' drop his weapon and he fell down straight away.
"I was tapping him on the cheek but I got no response. Then I saw blood coming down his forehead."
Lieutenant Thomas Knight, who was in the vehicle when it was hit, said: "The force of the explosion broke the tracking on the right hand side, destroying the steering."
Coroner Mr Masters said: "John was an astonishingly dedicated and charismatic leader."
Corporal Rigby had the nickname Golden-balls as he was considered by his comrades as the David Beckham of squaddies.
He had been due to be promoted to sergeant after passing his exams with the highest marks in his regiment.
John and Will joined the Army aged 16. They earned a place in the Guinness Book of Records as the first twins to go to the North Pole as part of an expedition when they were 15 and pupils at Robertsbridge College.
Will later returned to Iraq to rejoin 4 Rifles.
A plaque, in memory of John, was unveiled on Rye War Memorial in November in a ceremony attended by his family and members of his regiment.
The Duchess of Cornwall has presented Iraq tour medals to soldiers from the 4th Battalion The Rifles.
The Wiltshire-based regiment recently returned from six months in the Gulf, during which time it saw some of the fiercest fighting of the Iraq campaign.
A total of five soldiers from the regiment died during the tour.
Camilla is Royal Colonel of 4 Rifles, a new battalion - formerly the 2nd Battalion The Royal Green Jackets - which was formed in February.
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Monday 28 May 2012
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