Lee Rigby – a 25-year-old ‘cheeky and humorous’ serviceman described as a ‘loving father’ to his two-year-old son Jack – was identified as police guarded his home in Middleton, Greater Manchester.
His family tonight paid tribute to ‘a loving son, husband, father, brother and uncle’, adding that ‘he always wanted to be in the Army, live life and enjoy himself’.
Drummer Rigby, a keen football fan who followed Manchester United FC, was just starting his Army career and had recently fought in Afghanistan with the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers.
But as he walked towards the Royal Artillery Barracks in Woolwich, south-east London, yesterday afternoon, he was run down by a car on the pavement and hacked to death in a shocking attack.
A statement from Drummer Rigby’s family tonight said: ‘Lee was lovely. He would do anything for anybody – he always looked after his sisters and always protected them.
‘He took a “big brother” role with everyone. All he wanted to do from when he was a little boy was be in the Army. He wanted to live life and enjoy himself.
‘His family meant everything to him. He was a loving son, husband, father, brother and uncle – and a friend to many. We ask that our privacy be respected at this difficult time.’
Career: Drummer Rigby, 25, known as ‘Riggers’, was known as a brave soldier
Drummer Rigby was known to his comrades as ‘Riggers’, who said he was a ‘popular’ and ‘very bubbly character’. He was ‘one of the battalion’s great characters, always smiling’, friends said.
Tonight, U.S. President Barack Obama offered his support to Britain, saying: ‘The United States stands resolute with the United Kingdom, our ally and friend, against violent extremism and terror.
‘There can be absolutely no justification for such acts, and our thoughts and prayers are with the family of the victim, the police and security services responding to this horrific act and the communities they serve, and the British people.’
Announcing Drummer Rigby’s death, the Ministry of Defence said in a statement: ‘Drummer Lee Rigby, or ‘Riggers’ to his friends, was born in July 1987 in Crumpsall, Manchester.
‘He joined the Army in 2006 and on successful completion of his infantry training course at Infantry Training Centre Catterick he was selected to be a member of the Corps of Drums and posted to 2nd Battalion, The Royal Regiment of Fusiliers.
‘His first posting was as a machine gunner in Cyprus where the Battalion was serving as the resident Infantry Battalion in Dhekelia.
‘Having performed a plethora of tasks while in Cyprus, he returned to the UK in the early part of 2008 to Hounslow, west London. Here, Drummer Rigby stood proudly outside the Royal Palaces as part of the Battalion’s public duties commitment.
‘He was an integral member of the Corps of Drums throughout the Battalion’s time on public duties, the highlight of which was being a part of the Household Division’s Beating the Retreat – a real honour for a line infantry Corps of Drums.
‘In April 2009 Drummer Rigby deployed on Operations for the first time to Helmand province, Afghanistan, where he served as a member of the Fire Support Group in Patrol Base Woqab.
‘On returning to the UK he completed a second tour of public duties and then moved with the Battalion to Celle, Germany, to be held at a state of high readiness for contingency operations as part of the Small Scale Contingency Battle Group.
‘In 2011 Drummer Rigby took up a Recruiting post in London where he also assisted with duties at Regimental Headquarters in the Tower of London.
‘An extremely popular and witty soldier, Drummer Rigby was a larger than life personality within the Corps of Drums and was well known, liked and respected across the Second Fusiliers. He was a passionate and life-long Manchester United fan.
‘A loving father to his son Jack, aged two years, he will be sorely missed by all who knew him. The regiment’s thoughts and prayers are with his family during this extremely difficult time. “Once a Fusilier, always a Fusilier.”’
Lieutenant Colonel Jim Taylor MBE, Second Fusiliers Commanding Officer, described Drummer Rigby as a ‘dedicated and professional soldier’ who was a ‘real character within the Second Fusiliers’.
He added: ‘Larger than life, he was at the heart of our Corps of Drums. An experienced and talented side drummer and machine gunner, he was a true warrior and served with distinction in Afghanistan, Germany and Cyprus.
‘His ability, talent and personality made him a natural choice to work in the recruiting group. He will be sorely missed by everyone in the Second Fusiliers.’
Captain Alan Williamson, Drummer Rigby’s Platoon Commander from 2010 to 2011, added that he was ‘a cheeky and humorous man, always there with a joke to brighten the mood’.
In tribute: Flowers left at the scene in Woolwich, south-east London, where soldier Lee Rigby lost his life
And Warrant Officer Class 1 Ned Miller, Regimental Sergeant Major Second Fusiliers, said: ‘Riggers is what every Battalion needs. He was one of the Battalion’s great characters, always smiling.’
Vicar Guy Jamieson, who married Drummer Rigby in 2007 to the wife whom he was separated from, at St Anne-in-the-Grove Church in Southowram, near Halifax, West Yorkshire, said it was an ‘absolute tragedy’.
He said: ‘When the news first came through yesterday I felt sickened. It’s abhorrent. We hear a lot about military tragedies overseas but the fact that it was in the street in a city makes it more horrific.
‘I remember his wedding well. He had already spoken to the chaplain at Catterick (Garrison) and came to me well prepared with lots of questions. The wedding day was wonderful.
‘Because it was a military wedding it requires a lot of preparation. I remember sitting next to Lee on the front pew before everything started and reminding him what his first words to say were.’
Military wives, police and members of the public were laying bouquets of flowers near the scene in honour of the murder victim today.
One note left said simply: ‘So sorry. Our thoughts are with your family, friends and comrades.’
Another read: ‘A true hero. May you rest in peace forever! Such a sad day and it disgusts me to think my son will have to grow up in a world like this full of violence. I never knew you but you’ll forever be in my heart and thoughts.’
A third person wrote: ‘We never knew you, but fly high with the angels.’
Another said: ‘To a hero taken from us too soon, may you rest in peace. Always in our hearts, Martin, Faye and Hope, fellow soldier family.’
A serving soldier lay flowers outside the barracks today wearing a Help for Heroes t-shirt, just like the victim.
‘We feel a lot of anger. All I know is that he was a young guy. A soldier just starting out. It’s heartbreaking. The soldiers inside that barracks will really be feeling this,’ he said.
‘I grew up in this area and that’s why I wanted to come down here today and pay my respects. I’ve come wearing a Help for Heroes T-shirt to show that nobody can break us. I wanted to show solidarity for another soldier.
Read more: DailyMail
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