Pte 21618 Charles Albert Riley

• Age: 23
• From: Bootle
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 19th Btn
• K.I.A Tuesday 21st November 1916
• Commemorated at: Warlincourt Halte Brit Cem
  Panel Ref: III.G.8

Charles Albert Riley was born in 1893 in Bootle, resided in Liverpool and was the son of William James Riley and his wife Hannah Matilda (nee Parkinson),  of 13 Jermyn Street, Princes Park, Liverpool.

The 1901 Census shows the family living at 28, Sidney Road, Bootle cum Linacre. His father, William James, is aged 36, born in 1865 and is a clerk to a musical society and his mother, Hannah Matilda, is aged 37, with no occupation listed. They have four children at the time of the Census, William aged 11, Thomas Arthur aged 9, Charles Albert aged 7 and Percival aged 2. Also living with the family is Hannah’s widowed mother, Jane Parkinson, aged 67,and born in 1834 in Bootle. 

The 1911 Census shows the family living at 170 Chatham Street, Liverpool. His father, William James, is aged 46, born in 1865 in Bootle and is Secretary to the Liverpool Philharmonic Society. Charles' mother Hannah Matilda is aged 47, born 1864 in Walton, Liverpool . They have been married for 22 years and they had seven children of which two had died, all of the children were born in Bootle. They have five children in the household;  William aged 20 born 1891 is a book keeper, Thomas Arthur aged 19, born 1892 is a shipping clerk,  Charles Albert aged 17, is a clerk, Percival aged 12, born 1899 and Eric Edward Septimus, aged 8, born 1903 are both at school.

Charles enlisted on the 11^th September, 1914 in Liverpool joining the 19th Battalion as Private 21618. He gave his age as 21 years and 60 days and his occupation as a draughtsman. He was described as being 5 feet six and half inches tall, weighed 138lbs, had a fresh complexion, with brown eyes and brown hair. He stated his religion as Baptist. He gave his next of kin as his mother Hannah Riley, of 5 Mulgrave Street, Liverpool.

Formed on 07^th September 1914 the 19^th Battalion trained locally at Sefton Park and remained living at home or in rented accommodation until November 1914. They then moved to the hutted accommodation at Lord Derby’s estate at Knowsley Hall. On 30th April 1915 the 19th Battalion alongside the other three Pals battalions left Liverpool via Prescot Station for further training at Belton Park, Grantham. They remained here until September 1915 when they reached Larkhill Camp on Salisbury Plain. He arrived in France on the 07^th November 1915.

Charles' service records show;

03.08.15: Late on parade at 09.10am, three days confined to barracks.

17.10.15: Absent from church parade, punishment award: admonished

07.11.15: Embarked for France with his Battalion.

SDGW lists him as killed in action, after receiving a shell wound to the abdomen, on the 21st November 1916, aged 21. His colleague Private 51681 A. E Jefferies was also hit by the shell, in the right arm and leg, and later died of his wounds on the 24^th November at 20 Casualty Clearing Station.

The battalion war diary records:

‘Berles. In billets. Working parties found for R.E’s. 52252 Private Hickson F.O. and 21798 Wainwright H. were killed in action, 41813 Private Minton A, 21618 Private Riley C. 51681 Private Jefferies A.E, 21472 Corporal Carter, E., were wounded in action. All were of ‘D’ Company and were on one of the working parties in the frontline.’

Charles' personal effects were sent to his mother and included one farthing, one cent piece, one purse, one national reserve badge, one pipe, one pouch, one watch, one chain, one pair of spectacles, two shoulder plates, one Imperial badge, one pocket knife, one book, one small book, one pair of gloves and letters and photographs.

Reports on his death appeared in the Evening Express and in the Liverpool Echo on the 01st December 1916.

"Private Charles Riley, K.L.R., who has died of wounds in a hospital in France, is the third son of Mr. W.J. Riley, secretary of the Liverpool Philharmonic Society. Private Riley, who was 23 years of age, joined the Liverpools in September 1914, and has been serving at the front since October of last year, having recently been transferred to the machine gun section. He was formerly employed by Messrs. E. F. Blakeley and Co., Vauxhall Ironworks, Birkenhead. An old boy of Bedford-road School, he was associated with Prince's Gate Baptist Church, and was a worker in the Sunday school and children's service. He is the first member of the church to be killed in the war.

 His father has received a most sympathetic letter from a chaplain, who adds: "I buried him this afternoon in a quiet cemetery close by where many another brave man lies in his last sleep." 

Charles now rests at Warlincourt Halte British Cemetery, France.

The site of the cemetery was chosen in May 1916. It was used from June 1916 to May 1917 by the 20th and 43rd Casualty Clearing Stations, in February 1917 by the 1/1st South Midland, and from April to June 1917 by the 32nd. The whole of plots VII, VIII, IX and X were filled in April and May 1917, the months of the Battles of Arras. From June 1917, the cemetery was practically unused until the fighting of May and June 1918, when field ambulances buried in it. After the Armistice the cemetery was increased by graves brought in from other small military cemeteries.

The cemetery now contains 1,266 Commonwealth burials of the First World War. There are also 29 German and two French war graves.

The cemetery was designed by Charles Holden.

Charles is also commemorated on the following memorials:

Hall of Remembrance, Liverpool Town Hall Panel 44 Left

Bedford Road Council School,

Bootle War Memorial

The family suffered a second grievous loss when another son, William Parkinson Riley, also fell. He was serving with the Duke Of Cambridge's Own (Middlesex Regiment) as Sergeant G/100520 in Russia when he died on the 02^nd January 1919, aged 29.

He enlisted on the 17^th July 1918, giving his age as 28 years and three months.

After his death in Russia, a Court of Enquiry was assembled at Kola Railway Bridge to investigate and report on the death of Sergeant Riley who had been found dead after drinking whiskey with colleagues. The verdict of the Court on the 04^th January 1919 was that he died of alcoholic poisoning and to which no blame can be attached other than to himself.

William is commemorated at the Murmansk New British Cemetery. 

He is also commemorated on the following Memorials:

Hall of Remembrance, Liverpool Town Hall, Panel 43

Bedford Road Council School,

Bootle War Memorial.

Soldiers Effects to father William James and pension to his mother Hannah.

After his death his father was living at 13 Jermyn Street, Princes Park.

We currently have no further information on Charles Albert Riley, If you have or know someone who may be able to add to the history of this soldier, please contact us.