Norman RILEY

07 January 1916

SUTTON SOLDIER DIES FROM WOUNDS

On Friday morning last week, Mrs. Walter H. Riley, 14 Walton Street, Sutton-in-Craven, received the sad news from the Infantry Records Office, York, that her son, Lance-Corp. Norman Riley of the 9th Duke of Wellington’s, passed away at 12.10 p.m. at the 13th General Hospital, Boulogne, on December 2lst, 1915, as the result of gunshot wounds in the head. Accompanying the intelligence was a printed note expressing the sympathy of the King and Queen in their great sorrow.

Lance-Corp Riley joined the colours in September, 1914, and was in training at Bovington Camp, Dorset, until July, 1915, when he went to the Front. After a few months in France he came home on leave for a few days. Prior to enlistment, Lance-Corp. Riley was employed by Messrs. S. Thompson & Son, coal- merchants, and was of a very cheery and sociable disposition, and was twenty-three years of age. He is survived by a widowed mother, two sisters, and one brother, to whom the sympathy of the whole district is tendered.

14 January 1916

SUTTON SOLDIER’S DEATH – OFFICER’S APPRECIATION

Mrs. Walter H. Riley received the following letter on Sunday last respecting the death of her son, Lance Corporal Norman Riley, who died from wounds in the head received on the 19th December, as reported in our last week’s issue.

‘D’ Company 9th Duke of Wellington’s, January 5th 1916

‘‘Dear Mrs. Riley, – It was with the greatest regret for the Company’s sake, and sorrow for yours, that I heard today that your son, Norman, died in hospital from wounds received on the 19th. He did his duty well that day as always, and after he was hit in the head walked down to Brigade Headquarters where I saw him. I spoke to him there and praised him for his good work, and he asked for water which I gave him from my bottle. I was afraid he was badly hit, and he was taken away in the ambulance soon afterwards. He was a fine, willing, cheerful lad, and I sent his name in as full corporal only the day before he was killed. I also recommended him to go into transport work, which he was very keen about, and the transport officer had promised to take him. I fear nothing will comfort you much, but the knowledge that he always did his work well and was much liked and respected throughout the Company may be some help to you. Had he lived he might have been mentioned in dispatches, and was certain to have got further promotion.

‘‘With very true sympathy, I am, yours sincerely, Malcolm Robertson, (Captain)."

13 October 1916

SUTTON – THE ROLL OF HONOUR

Writing in the Parish Magazine on the war, the Vicar of Sutton (Rev. A.R. Light) gives a list of men from the Parish of Sutton, who have fallen in defence of their country as follows:–Arnold Healey, Walter Haggas, Lyall Taylor, Edmund Wilkinson, Norman Riley, Nelson W. Petty, Richard Whitehall, Albert Wm. Tune, Frederick W. Thompson, Henry Taylor, Joseph G. Bancroft, Cedric Fawcett Horsfall.
Mr. Light also says: “I have not in the Magazine mentioned by name those from this place who have given their lives for their country, not because I have forgotten such promising young men as Henry Taylor, and others whose names hang in the Church porch, and, indeed, as I write this, I fear lest it may even be dimly thought that one may seem to be valued more than another. All who are fighting are equally dear to God, and it is also true to say that both rich and poor are giving their best, offering on an altar watered with tears those whose lives are so much to them. All those boys who formed our first patrol of Scouts have almost gone to the front, and only last week we heard of Reginald Ellison being wounded, but we hope his life will yet be spared.

To every mother whose heart aches with anxiety or for actual loss, I offer most true sympathy, whether such are connected with us in the worship of Sutton Church or not, and one cannot help feeling in such times as these that religious differences are not, and cannot be again, as great and as dividing as they have seemed in the past, and that all are one family of God. May each one of these, who will never enter into our lives here again, rest in peace.”

06 July 1917

SUTTON-IN-CRAVEN – ANOTHER SOLDIER KILLED: Corporal Willie Hargreaves

On Saturday evening Mrs. Willie Hargreaves, of Holmfield, Sutton-in-Craven, received an intimation from Captain T.S. Holland, of the West Riding Regiment, informing her that her husband, Lance Corporal Willie Hargreaves, had been killed in action “Somewhere in France”. The letter, which is dated 26th May 1917, is as follows:–

“Dear Mrs. Hargreaves, – I am truly sorry to have to inform you of the death of your husband. He was killed instantaneously by a shell in the front line on the night of the 24th. He was a most efficient N.C.O. and had become very popular both with his officers, brother N.C.O.s and men, and I know I am speaking for all when I say that his loss will be most deeply regretted by all with whom he came in contact. He always carried out his duties in a most satisfactory manner, and I have lost a very valuable N.C.O., and his men have lost a true comrade, and I cannot express my sympathy as I should like to do, but I hope it will be some consolation for you to know that he died in the execution of his duty like the true soldier he was. He was buried this morning in a well-kept British Cemetery well behind the line, and the service was read over by an Army Chaplain. I hope you will excuse me from writing more, as I am unable to put into words my feelings. Hoping you will bear up bravely under this cruel loss, and assuring you of my deepest sympathy. I remain, yours very truly, (signed) T. S. HOLLAND, Captain O/C, B Company, West Riding Regiment.”

Lance Corporal Hargreaves joined the West Riding Regiment a month after the outbreak of war, and had been out in France for over two years. At the time of enlistment he was employed by Messrs. T. and M. Bairstow, Sutton Mills. He only had one leave all the time he was in France. He was home on leave at the beginning of last October, and during the time he was home he was quietly married to Miss Doris Riley, of Holmfield. Lance Corporal Hargreaves was of a quiet, unassuming disposition, and as manly a fellow as it was possible to imagine, and his loss is very keenly felt in the two villages. He was known by everyone, and loved by all with whom he came in contact. At the time of his death he was a Lewis gunner. His younger brother, Private Allan Hargreaves, is with the Royal Field Artillery in France.

Private Arnold Leach, also of Holmfield, a pal of Lance Corporal Hargreaves, arrived home on Saturday night on leave from the Front, and he stated that he and several other comrades buried him behind the lines. Private Leach says the Company had been in the trenches two days over the time when his chum was killed. Just before he was killed a big German shell came whizzing past Lance Corporal Hargreaves, who was engaged cleaning his gun, but he never moved, and went on with his work as if nothing had happened. He was cleaning his gun at the time of his death. He had written home regularly and letters were received from him during last week, and the news of his death came as a great shock to his relatives. All the time he has been out he had never once complained, and Private Leach says if his chum had not been killed he would shortly have received his second stripe.

Lance Corporal Hargreaves was an old Sunday School scholar of the Sutton Baptist Sunday School. This is the second loss his widow has sustained. Her brother, Lance Corporal Norman Riley, died of gunshot wounds in the head in December 1915. Lance Corporal Riley had his name sent in for promotion the day he was killed, and his officer at the time of his death wrote home to his parents and said that if he had lived he would probably have been mentioned in despatches for beating off a German bombing attack with his fifteen platoon bombers.