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 and resided in Liverpool and was the son of William James and Hannah Riley (nee Parkinson), 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 wife 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 them is Hannah’s widowed mother Jane Parkinson aged 67, born 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. 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, brown eyes, brown hair and gave his religion as Baptist. He gave his NOK as his mother Hannah Riley, 5 Mulgrave St, Liverpool.

Formed in November 1914 the 20^th Battalion were originally billeted at Tournament Hall, Knotty Ash before on 29^th January 1915 they moved to the hutted accommodation purposely built 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. 

His 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 1st 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 as 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." 

He now rests at Warlincourt Halte British Cemetery, France.

He is also commemorated on the following memorials:

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 on the 2^nd January, 1919 aged 29 and is commemorated at the Murmansk New British Cemetery. He is also commemorated on the Bedford Road Council School, Bootle War Memorial.

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 4^th January, 1919 was that he died of alcoholic poisoning and to which no blame can be attached other than to himself.

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

After his death his father was living at 13 Jermyn St, 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.