COVENTRY MESSAGE BOARD

The soldier killed in an attack on a London street has been named as Drummer Lee Rigby of the 2nd Battalion the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers.



Drummer Rigby, 25, from Manchester, leaves behind a two-year-old son.

Two men are under arrest in hospital after police shot them near Woolwich Barracks on Wednesday afternoon, in the aftermath of the attack.

The suspects, believed to include Michael Adebolajo, were known to security services, sources have said.

The victim's name was announced by the Ministry of Defence pending formal police identification.

"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," the MoD statement said.

Commanding officer Lt Col Jim Taylor said of Drummer Rigby: "An experienced and talented side drummer and machine gunner, he was a true warrior and served with distinction in Afghanistan, Germany and Cyprus."

Capt Alan Williamson said: "Drummer Rigby or 'Riggers' as he was known within the platoon was a cheeky and humorous man, always there with a joke to brighten the mood."

Hundreds to honour murdered fusilier at Coventry service

Hundreds of people are expected to attend a short service in Coventry in memory of murdered fusilier Lee Rigby.

Former fusiliers, standard bearers and members of the public will pay their respects at the cenotaph at the War Memorial Park tomorrow.

The event has been organised by the Central branch of the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers.

Chairman Kevin Bowman, who served with the fusiliers for ten years until 1995, said: “The reason for organising it is so the people of Coventry, in particular members of the branch, can pay their respects to Lee locally.

“It’s affected quite a lot of us, it’s hit us hard, but as we have done in the past, in the face of adversity, we will stand strong.

“Our regiment lost seven in Afghanistan 2009, but this really hit home hard being on our own turf.

“We’ve got a couple of members who have just left the army who served with Lee.”

Kevin added: “The aim of the service is not religious, it will be to simply remember Lee and pay tribute to him.”

The service starts at 11am with a few words and a poem from Kevin, before a lone bugler sounds the Last Post and Reveille and a Gurkha piper plays a couple of laments.

People will also be able to place flowers at the foot of the monument.

Drummer Rigby, 25, from Manchester, will now have his name engraved on the Armed Forces Memorial in Lichfield – a tribute usually reserved for those killed on active service.

He was friends with Bedworth soldier Simon Valentine, one of seven fusiliers killed in action in Afghanistan in 2009.

When he returned to the UK, he visited Simon’s mum Carol at her home in Hawkesbury and told her: “If I turn out to be half the soldier your son was, I would be proud.”