Private Harry Riley
5315 Sherwood Foresters (Notts & Derby Regiment)
235508 6th Batallion Leicestershire Regiment
Harry Riley was born in 1894 son of William Riley a coal miner hewer born Golden Valley and his wife Mary Sanderson born Ironville. Harry had an elder sister Ada who went on to marry John Thomas Lewis MM who also served in WW1. He also had a brother Thomas and a sister named Gladys, who tragically died in 1918, aged 19. In 1901 the family was living at Pye Hill but by 1911 had moved to Franklin Road, Jacksdale at which time Harry was employed as a coal miner ‘dataller’ being given work on a daily basis as required. Datallers were also involved with building and repairing roadways at the colliery.
Harry enlisted on 14th December 1915 and served overseas. He was wounded and awarded Silver War Badge number B219588 and discharged on 25th October 1918 as ‘surplus to military requirements having suffered impairment since entry into the service.’ He was a recipient of the Victory and British War Medals.
Harry married Eliza Atkin in 1922 and they had a daughter named Joan.