Peter Rigby WIGHTMAN

Regimental number8398
Date of birth5 November 1893
Place of birthNorwood, South Australia
SchoolTrained at the School of Mines, Adelaide, as a surveyor and draughtsman.
ReligionPresbyterian
OccupationSurveyor and draughtsman
AddressThird Avenue, St Peters, South Australia
Marital statusSingle
Age at embarkation22
Height5' 8.5"
Weight136 lbs
Next of kinMother, Mrs Bessie Wightman, Third Avenue, St Peters, South Australia
Previous military service1 year 10 AIR. 1 yr 22nd Sig (Vol)
Enlistment date8 September 1915
Place of enlistmentAdelaide, South Australia
Rank on enlistmentGunner
Unit nameField Artillery Brigade 6, Battery 18
AWM Embarkation Roll number13/34/1
Embarkation detailsUnit embarked from Melbourne, Victoria, on board HMAT A34 Persic on 22 November 1915
Regimental number from Nominal RollCommissioned
Rank from Nominal RollLieutenant
Unit from Nominal Roll1st Australian Transport Section
Promotions

2nd Lieutenant


Promotion date: 24 April 1919

Lieutenant


Promotion date: 24 July 1919

FateEffective abroad (still overseas)
Medals

Meritorious Service Medal

'The development of the Topo Section at Corps Headquarters was largely due to this Sergeant's exceptional capacity and devotion to duty. During periods when operations were in progress, his work which was of considerable important was faithfully and well executed. Period: 22nd September, 1917, to 24th February, 1918.'
Source: 'Commonwealth Gazette' No. 173
Date: 7 November 1918

Discharge date22 August 1920
Other details

Commenced return to Australia on board HT 'Wahihe', 30 October 1919; disembarked Brisbane, 13 December 1919, for onward travel to Adelaide; discharged (appointment terminated), Adelaide, 22 August 1920.

Medals: 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal

Designed a unique record of the 18th Battery for the whole period of the War, a copy of which is held in the Australian War Memorial, Canberra. Was wounded in 1916 and then transferred to the Topographic unit, where he received a Meritorious Service Medal for the work he did in this section.

He married Henrietta Adelaide Winchcombe in London in 1919 and returned to Australia in 1920 to work with Dr C.E. Bean, drawing maps for Bean's Official History of Australia at Tuggeranong, near Canberra.

He studied for the local government engineer's certificate and obtained a position with the New South Wales Department of Main Roads, where he was involved in designing the approaches to the Harbour Bridge. He obtained a position as Assistant Engineer with the Wagga Wagga Shire Council about 1935, and then as an Engineer with the Granville Municipal Council and later as the Civil Engineer for the Parramatta Municipal Council.

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Date of death8 October 1938
Age at death44
Place of burialCremated and ashes placed in a niche in the Remembrance Gardens at Rookwood Cemetery, Sydney, New South Wales
SourcesNAA: B2455, WIGHTMAN Peter Rigby