Add Information to Record of a Person who served during the Great War on The Wartime Memories Project Website
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240811
Lt. Harold Riley MC.
British Army 250th Tunnelling Company Royal Engineers.
from:Southend-on-Sea, Essex
Harold Riley enlisted in the Duke of Cornwalls L.I. on 2nd of Sept 1914. He had previously served in the London University O.T.C. and was awarded a BSc Hons (Engineering). On 24th of Sept 1914, he was promoted to Lance Sergeant and on 12th of Feb 1915 to Sergeant. He left the DCLI in France on selection for a commission and joined the RE on 21 Oct as Lieutenant in the 250th Tunnelling Company.
Harold was wounded on 20th 1917 and underwent an operation to his hand at the London General Hospital, Wandsworth. He rejoined his unit on 8th of Jan 1918. Harold was badly wounded on 21st of March 1918 when his company (now the 172 Tunnelling Company was occupying trenches near Flucquières. Harold was awarded the Military cross, gazetted on 1st Jan 1918.
On 6th of Dec 1918 his wounds were assessed to be permanent and he was awarded a war wound gratuity and pension. He left the army on 8 May 1919.
Harold Riley's full war history was researched in 2006 by Chris Wesley.