James Riley
- Family History
- Military History
- Extra Information
- Photographs
James Riley was born in 1897 at Newark and was the son Alfred a house painter and Esther Riley née Bowers of 62 Sleaford Road Newark. His father Alfred Riley was born in 1866 at Newark and his mother Esther Bowers was born in 1867 at Worksop, they were married n 1889, their marriage was recorded in the Newark Registration District, they went on to have 12 children, sadly two were to die in infancy or early childhood, their children, all born in Newark were, Fred b1890, Alice b1893, Albert b1895, James b1897, Gertrude b1899, Alfred Kitchener b 1901, Ernest b1903, John b1907, Lily b1908 and George b1911. In the 1911 census the family are living at 165 Barmby Gate, Newark and are shown as Alfred 45 yrs a house painter, he is living with his wife Esther 44 yrs and their children, Fred 21 yrs a wheelwrights labourer, Albert 16 yrs an errand boy, James 14 yrs an apprentice boiler maker, Gertie 12 yrs a scholar, Alfred 10 yrs a scholar, Ernest 8 yrs, John 4 yrs, Lily 3 yrs and George a month old.
Private James Riley enlisted at Newark, he served with the Duke of Wellington's West Riding Regiment, he landed in France on 29th August 1915. He died of wounds on 19th May 1917 and is buried at Newark Cemetery Grave Reference: E C C 282
Article published 30th May 1917 in the Newark Advertiser :- Son of Alfred & Esther Riley, 62 Sleaford Road, Newark. An old scholar of Christ Church School and worked at various places in the town, including Messrs. Hole’s, Warwick’s and Gilstrap’s. He enlisted soon after the outbreak of war and served in France. Present at the Battle of Loos, where he lost a finger and later, on the Somme, where he had his kneecap blown off. He returned to England and was in hospital for a time, afterwards being marked for home service. Whilst stationed at Halifax, he contracted fever and died at the Central Military Hospital, Whittington Barracks, Lichfield. Buried at Newark with full military honours provided by the Royal Engineers. His father is Pte. Riley who served in the Boer War and joined the National Reserve at the outbreak of the present war. He is now stationed in Wales with the R.D.C. Brother Pte Albert Riley is with the 1/8th Sherwood Foresters in France.
