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Auction: 25002 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 146

The 1918 M.M. group of four awarded to Sergeant C. Riley, 5th Battalion, Shropshire Light Infantry, who was Killed in Action in October 1917

Military Medal, G.V.R. (10847 Sjt: C. Riley. 5/Shrops:L.I.); 1914-15 Star (10847 Pte. C. Riley. Shrops:L.I.); British War and Victory Medals (10847 Sjt. C. Riley. Shrops. L.I.), very fine (4)

M.M. London Gazette 2 November 1917.

Cornelius Riley was born at Brinsop, Herefordshire on 21 February 1893, the son of Jeremaih and Jane Riley. The young Riley was a parishioner and bell-ringer at St. George Church, Brinsop and he is said to have attended the local school. Enlisting at Hereford he entered the war on 22 May 1915 with the 5th Battalion, Shropshire Light Infantry.

An extract for the war diary notes that Riley's M.M. was announced in General Orders in September 1917, suggesting that it was awarded for his services either at the Battle of the Scarpe in April or Langemark in August. The same order saw eleven other M.M.s issued and one D.S.O. suggesting a major action.

Riley continued to serve however did not live to see the gazette of his award as he was killed in action on 24 October, his obituary in a local newspaper states:

'Pioneer-Sergt. C. Riley, Brinsop.

Information has been received by his wife that Pioneer-Sergt. C. Riley, K.S.L.I., Brinsop, has been killed in action. He is the youngest son of Mr. and Mrs. Riley, Brinsop. The deceased soldier, who was only 24 years of age, joined up at the outbreak of the war. He was awarded the Military Medal on the 22nd of August. It is only just over three months since he was home on a short leave to be marrier [SIC], and much sympathy is felt for his widow and parents. His commanding officer, writing to his widow, says "He was standing outside my dugout at 3.30 p.m., and had just been shooting at a German aeroplane, when a shell came and burst close behind him, a fragment of it penetrating his heart, and killing him instantly. I am so glad he suffered no pain. I had been speaking to him just a few minutes before, and he was full of fun and enthusiasm over shooting at the German aeroplane. I think he was the most popular man in the regiment. We buried him that night where he fell and read the service over him. There were several others of the regiment lying close to him".'

A stained glass window dedicated at St. George Church by Lady Sutton commemorated three men, Sir Richard Sutton, Lieutenant John Corbet and Riley. He is buried at New Irish Farm Cemetery; sold together with copied research.

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Estimate
£300 to £400

Starting price
£240