Arthur's Story.
EARLY LIFE
Arthur Riley was born in 1896 in Nantwich, the son of Mary and Edward Riley, an iron founder at the London & North Western Railway locomotive works. In 1901, four year old Arthur was living at 10 Grosvenor Street, Monks Coppenhall, near Crewe, with his parents and siblings Edith (20), George Henry (16), Leah (14), Osborne (12), Edward (10), Ernest (2) and baby Thomas (3 months), together with his parents' one year old granddaughter Elsie and two lodgers, Henry Lea and Edward Harnutt. Arthur was educated at Hightown LNWR Boys School.
Arthur's mother died in 1908, and this may be when Arthur was sent to Macclesfield Industrial School. He was recorded at that school in the 1911 census, learning the trade of brushmaking, and left the school in August 1912, returning to Crewe. Prior to enlisting, Arthur was employed by Councillor J. R. Goulden of West Street.
Arthur's father later lived at 23, Chesterfield Street, Crewe.
WW1 SERVICE
Arthur joined the Cheshire Regiment in Crewe at the outbreak of the war and, after training, was drafted to France on 22 February 1915. He was reported wounded on 25 September 1915 but rejoined his regiment after treatment. Arthur was wounded again and died of his wounds on 15th July 1916, aged 19.
His death was reported in the Macclesfield Courier on 5 August 1916:
INDUSTRIAL SCHOOL ROLL OF HONOUR
A letter has been received at the Macclesfield Certified Industrial School stating that ... Arthur Riley, of the Cheshire Regiment, had died from wounds on July 15th. Riley left the school in August 1912, and at the outbreak of war he joined the Cheshire Regiment. He was slightly wounded early last year, but he again returned to France and has there met his death.
Arthur's death was also reported in the Manchester Evening News on 2 August 1916:
SIX SOLDIER SONS: TWO KILLED
Mr E Riley of 23 Chesterfield St, Crewe, has received notification of the death on July 15 from shot wounds of his son, Private Arthur Riley, of the Cheshires. This is the second son Mr Riley has lost, Private Edward Riley, of the Welsh Fusiliers, having previously been killed in the trenches. Mr Riley has four other soldier sons serving in the war.
COMMEMORATION
Private Arthur Riley is buried in Grave Ref. V. G. 13. of the Abbeville Communal Cemetery in France.
In Macclesfield, Private Arthur Riley is commemorated on the Macclesfield Industrial School war memorial. Elsewhere, he is commemorated on the memorial lychgate at St Michael's Church, Coppenhall, Crewe.
NOTES
Brother of Edward Riley, who served as Private 3839 with the Royal Welsh Fusiliers and was killed in action in Belgium on 23rd November 1914; and of Percy, Osborne, George and Thomas who also served.
Uploaded by Mark A. Potts on February 11, 2018.
Further research by Rosie Rowley, Congleton.