Sometimes I make my tea so it’s
ready to eat while I watch the 6pm news. I can remember being slightly sickened
when the top story was the murder of soldier Lee Rigby. The attack had occurred
just hours before. Lee was walking back to barracks when Michael Adebolajo and Michael Adebowale
attacked him with knives and a cleaver and tried unsuccessfully to cut his head
off. They had gone out to find any soldier who "killed Muslims in Iraq and
in Afghanistan". Lee was crossing a road to a shop when he was spotted,
selected and killed.
On Sunday afternoon the way to Hebden Bridge to walk on the higher hills I decided to call
at the cemetery in Middleton to do a salute at Lee’s grave (he was born and
lived nearby.) I’m not sure who decides where new graves will be dug but he’s
buried in a new patch of grass and is on his own. It’s over five years since he
was buried and more people have been buried in the cemetery but he’s still in
the section on his own for some reason.
At the time of his death he was a drummer and
machine-gunner in the 2nd Battalion of the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers. With
the army he’d been to Cyprus, Germany and Afghanistan but was in Woolwich as he
was carrying out duties in the Tower of London. He had a two-year-old son, was
separated from its mum and had got engaged to a new girlfriend.
On the day he was murdered he was off duty.
Heading to a shop he was intentionally hit by a car at about 25mph. Inside were
Adebolajo and Adebowale who
got out and stabbed Lee to death. One had a cleaver and the poor lad bled to
death instantly. They dragged the corpse into the middle of the road and stayed
there probably expecting to be shot dead by armed police. Within minutes
unarmed police arrived and a cordon was put up. For unknown reasons the killers
didn’t do anything however when armed police officers arrived they charged at
them. Both were shot and wounded. Both men who were of Nigerian descent and had
converted to Islam (known to the security services) were sentenced to prison
for life.
Here I am by Lee’s headstone which is the
standard military type. He was given a military funeral at Bury Parish Church
which was attended by thousands of people and there was a private burial here
at Boarshaw Cemetery. Near the grave is one with some
Christmas decorations on it (see pic.) In another part of the cemetery is a
Victoria Cross recipient who I’ve visited before. I strolled down the path to
say hello. The link to his grave is here…
http://johnhalley.uk/Grave%20-%20Joel%20Halliwell.htm
A hearty salute for Lee...
Plaque on memorial bench…
Have a coffee with the lad in
2021...
Across from Lee’s grave I spotted
Christmas decorations on this grave…
In the same cemetery is Joel Halliwell, a Victoria Cross recipient. I’ve visited him
before but went to say hello…