[2] At the start of the First World War, which began for Britain in August 1914, Rivers was employed by the Midland Railway Company in Derby, working as labourer on a ballast train.

[3] In early 1915, the division was assigned to an offensive designed to breach the German lines at Neuve Chapelle in France.

[4] For the start of the offensive, on 10 March 1915, Rivers' battalion was in reserve but was brought into action the following day when it had to advance towards the village of Pietre.

[5] The citation reads as follows: For most conspicuous bravery at Neuve-Chapelle on 12th March, 1915, when he, on his own initiative, crept to within a few yards of a very large number of the enemy who were massed on the flank of an advanced company of his battalion, and hurled bombs on them.

Rivers performed a second act of great bravery on the same day, similar to the first mentioned, again causing the enemy to retire.

[8] On 12 March 2017, the 102nd anniversary of his death, a plaque commemorating Rivers was unveiled at platform 1 of Derby railway station.