Richard Edgar Riley
From Our Contribution
 Australia's Fighting Sons of the Empire p.246 | |
| Personal Information | |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | unknown |
| Place of Birth | Broken Hill, New South Wales |
| Death | 22 Jan 1962, aged 66 |
| Place of Death | Victoria Park, Western Australia |
| Age at Enlistment | 19 years, 11 months |
| Description | 5'7½" (1.71m) tall; weight 139 lbs (63 kg); fresh complexion, grey eyes, dark brown hair. |
| Occupation | sleeper cutter |
| Religion | Church of England |
| Address | Post Office, Kelmscott, Western Australia |
| Next of Kin | Father Mr Richard Askew Riley |
| Military Information | |
| Reg Number | 3244 |
| Date of Enlistment | 7 Sep 1915 |
| Rank | Private |
| Unit/Formation | 28th Battalion, 7th Reinforcement transferred to 1st ANZAC Cyclist Battalion |
| Date of Embarkation | 18 Jan 1916 - 16 Feb 1916 |
| Ship Embarked On | HMAT A7 Medic |
| Date of Return | 1 Jun 1919 - 8 Jul 1919 |
| Ship Returned On | SS Somali |
| Fate | Returned to Australia |
| Monument | Kelmscott War Memorial |
| Medals |
British War Medal Victory Medal |
Pre War
War Service
On 1 Nov 1915 Richard was allocated to the 7th reinforcement draft for the 28th Battalion and travelled with them to Egypt.
However, soon after his arrival in Egypt (12 Mar 1916) he was transferred to the Cyclist Corps, 2nd Division in the Canal Zone. Five days later on 19 Mar 1916 he boarded a ship in Alexandria for Marseilles, arriving there on 30 Mar 1916.
On 12 May 1916 Richard is taken on strength by the 1st ANZAC Cyclists Battalion on its formation. On 27 March 1917 he has a dose of ptomaine poisoning and is treated first by 5th Field Ambulance and is then treated by the 3rd Casualty Clearing Station before rejoining his unit on the 30th.
Spent a month from 23 Mar to 21 Apr 1918 as a member of the Corps Commander's Guard, and enjoyed leave in the UK from 10 - 26 Sep 1918.
Hospitalised in France (7th Stationary Hospital 24 Feb to 2 Mar 1919) and evacuated to England aboard HMHS St Andrew for admission to King George's Hospital in Stamford, followed by 3rd Auxiliary Hospital until 24 Apr 1919 with a severe case of Influenza.
Was granted furlough on recovery and then reported to 2nd Training Battalion in Codford on 8 May 1919.
Discharged 5th Military District 30 Aug 1919.
Post War
1920 married Evelyn Amy Radford in the Beverley district.
Electoral Roll entries - 1921 - 30 they have joined his father Richard Askew Riley on a farm at Taylor's Well near Pingelly; but in 1931 Richard (Jnr) is shown as a labourer at 23 Richardson street, Boulder; in 1936 a miner at 135 Richardson street, Boulder; 1937 he was joined by Evelyn Amy; 1958 both still at 135 Richardson street; 1963 - 1977 Evelyn living at 22 Manchester street, Victoria Park before she died in Bentley 23 Apr 1985 aged 85.
Notes