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Thomas Henry RILEY

Main CPGW Record

Surname: RILEY

Forename(s): Thomas Henry

Place of Birth: Skipton, Yorkshire

Service No: 306431

Rank: Private

Regiment / Corps / Service: Duke of Wellington’s (West Riding Regiment)

Battalion / Unit: 1/7th Battalion

Division: 49th (West Riding) Division

Age: 25

Date of Death: 1918-02-28

Awards: ---

CWGC Grave / Memorial Reference: VIII. F. 12.

CWGC Cemetery: DUHALLOW A.D.S. CEMETERY

CWGC Memorial: ---

Non-CWGC Burial: ---

Local War Memorial: SKIPTON, YORKSHIRE

Additional Information:

Thomas Henry Riley was the son of Henry and Sarah Elizabeth Riley, née Emmott. Henry was born at Manchester, Lancashire and Sarah at Skipton, Yorkshire.

1901 Skipton, Yorkshire Census: 2, Rectory Lane - Thomas H. Riley, aged 8 years, born Skipton, son of Henry and Sarah E. Riley.

1911 Skipton, Yorkshire Census: 21, Bennett Street - Thomas Henry Riley, aged 18 years, born Skipton, son of Henry and Sarah Elizabeth Riley.

British Army WW1 Medal Rolls Index Cards: Pte Thomas H. Riley, 306431, W. Rid. R.

British Army WW1 Medal and Award Rolls: Pte Thomas Henry Riley, 306431, 1/7th W. Rid. R. K. in A. 28.2.18.

Army Registers of Soldiers' Effects: Pte Thomas Henry Riley, 306431, 1/7th Bn W. Riding Regt. Date and Place of Death: 28.2.18 in action France. To whom Authorised/Amount Authorised: Mother and sole legatee - Sarah E. £22 6s. 8d.

Data Source: Craven’s Part in the Great War - original CPGW book entry

View Entry in CPGW Book

Entry in West Yorkshire Pioneer Illustrated War Record:

RILEY, Thos., aged 25, West Riding Regiment, son of Mrs. Riley, 33, Russell Street, Skipton, killed in action Feb. 28, 1918.

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Private Thomas Henry RILEY

Private Thomas Henry RILEY

Regiment / Corps / Service Badge: Duke of Wellington’s (West Riding Regiment)

Regiment / Corps / Service Badge: Duke of Wellington’s (West Riding Regiment)

Divisional Sign / Service Insignia: 49th (West Riding) Division

Divisional Sign / Service Insignia: 49th (West Riding) Division

Data from Soldiers Died in the Great War 1914 - 1919 Records

Soldiers Died Data for Soldier Records

Surname: RILEY

Forename(s): Thomas Henry

Born: Skipton, Yorks

Residence:

Enlisted: Skipton

Number: 306431

Rank: Private

Regiment: Duke of Wellington's (West Riding Regiment)

Battalion: 1/7th Battalion

Decorations:

Died Date: 28/02/18

Died How: Killed in action

Theatre of War: France & Flanders

Notes:

Data from Commonwealth War Graves Commission Records

CWGC Data for Soldier Records

Surname: RILEY

Forename(s): Thomas Henry

Country of Service: United Kingdom

Service Number: 306431

Rank: Private

Regiment: Duke of Wellington's (West Riding Regiment)

Unit: 1st/7th Bn.

Age: 25

Awards:

Died Date: 28/02/1918

Additional Information: Son of Mrs. Sarah Elizabeth Riley, of 33, Russell St., Skipton, Yorks. (CWGC Headstone Personal Inscription: GONE BUT NOT FORGOTTEN)

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Duhallow A.D.S. Cemetery

Duhallow A.D.S. Cemetery

CWGC Headstone

Courtesy of Aurel Sercu, Boezinge, Belgium

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View Craven Herald Articles

Craven Herald and Wensleydale Standard Logo

08 March 1918

ANOTHER SKIPTON SACRIFICE

Mrs. Riley, 33, Russell Street, Skipton, received a letter from Lieut. Slack on Wednesday intimating that her son, Private Thomas Henry Riley, West Riding Regiment, was killed on February 28th by a piece of enemy shell which hit him in the neck. Private Riley was 25 years of age, and had been on active service seventeen months. He is described by his officer as “one of the most reliable men in the platoon and was already marked out for promotion.” Mrs. Riley has also received a touching letter of sympathy from several pals of her son, including a Skipton lad named S. Hale; and the funeral service was attended by Private J. Bennett, of Devonshire Street, Skipton. Deceased formerly worked for Mr. W. Shuttleworth, grocer, Skipton, and was a member of the Skipton Church Institute.

22 March 1918

ANOTHER SKIPTON TERRITORIAL FALLS

We regret to hear that Mrs. Smith, confectioner, Newmarket Street, Skipton, has received information that her husband, Private Percy Edgar Smith, West Riding Regiment, was killed in action on March 14th. In a letter to Mrs. Smith, Private E. M. Smith (deceased’s brother) stated that her husband was killed by an enemy shell whilst sitting in his dugout, and that he had verified the information by enquiry at headquarters and was attending the funeral. The writer added:– “He has died for King and Country and a good cause. He was, I can safely say, a good soldier.”

The sad news is confirmed in a letter to Mrs. Smith from another brother, Private R. S. Smith, who adds:– “He has done his duty for freedom and those he left at home.”

Deceased, who was interred near to another Skipton soldier named Riley, of Russell Street, was 28 years of age, and was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Aaron Smith, of Brougham Street, Skipton. Mobilised with the local Territorials at the outbreak of war, he went to France in October 1916. His time expired at Christmas last year, but after a month’s leave at home he returned to the Front in January last. Prior to the war he was a turner in the employ of Messrs. Marsden and Naylor, Skipton, and was a member of the Cononley Association Football Club.

28 February 1919

RILEY – In loving memory of Pte. Thomas Henry Riley, 1/7th West Riding Regiment, killed in action February 28th, 1918, aged 25 years.

Peace be thy rest dear son and brother,
‘Tis sweet to breath thy name,
In life we loved thee dearly,
In death we do the same.
May the Heavenly winds blow softly,
O’er that sweet and hallowed spot.
Though the sea divides his grave from us,
He will never be forgot.

From his mother and sisters, 33 Russell Street, Skipton.

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08 March 1918

RILEY – Killed in action. Feb. 28th, Private Thos. Hy. Riley, West Riding Regiment, son of Mrs. Riley, of 33, Russell Street, Skipton, aged 25.

08 March 1918

SKIPTON

Pte. T.H. Riley Killed

Mrs. Riley, of 33, Russell Street, Skipton, received information on Wednesday that her son, Pte. Thomas Henry Riley, of the West Riding Regiment, had been killed by a German shell on Feb. 28th. In a letter to Mrs. Riley his officer writes:– “Your son was one of the most reliable in the platoon, and was marked out for promotion. There was a friend, Pte. J. Bennett, of Devonshire Street, at the funeral.” A letter has also been received from several of his pals, including S. Hale, a Skipton boy, expressing their sympathy. Pte. Riley, who was 25 years of age, had been at the front about 17 months. Prior to enlisting he was employed as a plasterer by Mr. Alfred Shuttleworth, of Skipton.

22 March 1918

CRAVEN AND THE WAR

Private Percy E. Smith Killed

Pte. Percy Edgar Smith, of the Duke of Wellington’s West Riding Regiment, husband of Mrs. Smith, confectioner, Newmarket Street, Skipton, and son of Mr. and Mrs. Aaran Smith, of Brougham Street, Skipton, was killed in action on March 14th. Pte. E. M. Smith, brother of the deceased, in a letter to Mrs. Smith, states:– “1 am sorry to say that your husband was killed on March 14th by a German shell whist sitting in his dugout. I could have dropped when 1 was told. I went right away to their battalion headquarters to see if it was correct, and to my sorrow I found it was so. I also saw him, and I am going to his funeral today. He has died for King and country and a good cause, and also I can safely say he was a good soldier. He walked four miles to see me about a week ago, and he had tea at our billet.” Another brother, Pte. S. Smith, has also written confirming his death, and added that he had done his duty for the freedom of those he had left at home. The deceased soldier’s brothers have also written to their parents, one of them stating that Percy had been buried next to another Skipton lad named Riley, who resided in Russell Street. Pte. Smith, who was 28 years of age, had for eight years prior to the war served in the local Territorials, and was mobilised on the outbreak of hostilities. He went to France in October, 1916. His time expired about Christmas last year, but after a month’s leave at home be returned to France in January last. He was formerly employed as a turner by Messrs. Marsden and Naylor, Skipton, and was also a member of the Cononley Association Football Club.

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