Thousands gather for Lee Rigby?s military funeral

Drummer Lee Rigby was killed in Woolwich on May 22. MoD/PA

Friday, July 12, 2013
12:29 PM

The young son of Lee Rigby, who was killed in Woolwich two months ago, paid tribute to ?My Daddy My Hero? today as thousands of mourners gathered to remember the soldier.

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Members of the public applauded Fusilier Rigby?s comrades and forces veterans as they arrived for the funeral service at Bury Parish Church, where comrades had maintained a guard of honour overnight.

Applause also greeted the 25-year-old?s heartbroken loved ones, who joined about 800 mourners inside for the private service just a couple of miles from his home town of Middleton, Greater Manchester.

Fusilier Rigby?s wife Rebecca, 30, walked in with the couple?s two-year-old son Jack, who wore a blue T-shirt with the words ?My Daddy My Hero? on the back.

David Cameron arrived with London Mayor Boris Johnson to ripples of applause. The Prime Minister told the Commons earlier this week that the whole of the UK would be mourning with the family.

Fusilier Rigby, a drummer in the 2nd Battalion Royal Regiment of Fusiliers (2RRF), was killed as he returned to Woolwich barracks from the Tower of London on May 22.

He had served in Afghanistan as a machine gunner and was attached to the regimental recruiting team when he was hacked to death in broad daylight in the street.

In his eulogy, Fusilier Rigby?s commanding officer, Lieutenant Colonel Jim Taylor, said: ?Fusilier Lee James Rigby, or Riggers to his friends in the Army, was an extremely popular soldier. A larger-than-life personality, he loved to perform and belonged in the Second Fusiliers? Corps of Drums. He was truly charismatic.

?To be with Lee was to be where it was most fun - the centre of good times and much mischief.

?People fell quickly under his spell. Whether it was in work or off duty, at a ceremonial engagement or on operations, Lee just knew how to lighten the mood.

?He could brighten a room within moments and, by all accounts, clear a dancefloor in seconds if a Whitney Houston track was playing.?

In April 2009 he put his drum down and picked up his machine gun when the Second Fusiliers deployed to Afghanistan, mourners heard.

It was a ?gruelling tour? for the battalion with seven soldiers killed in six months.

Lt Col Taylor said Fusilier Rigby was ?under relentless pressure from the insurgents?.

?Lee proved himself to be dedicated, professional and incredibly brave,? he said.

The soldier?s final challenge in the Army was with the Recruiting Group in London, where he also assisted with duties at Regimental Headquarters in the Tower of London.

?The recruiting post was one that required just the characteristics that Lee possessed and had shown in spades in the short time he had served with the Fusiliers,? he said.

?Namely, soldiering ability and charisma coupled with a cheeky outgoing personality that naturally endeared him to potential recruits.

?Based out of Woolwich, he helped to inspire many young people to join the Armed Forces.

?Tragically it was while Lee was performing these duties that he was so cruelly taken from us.?

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Source: http://www.romfordrecorder.co.uk/thousands_gather_for_lee_rigby_s_military_funeral_1_2276093

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