| Notes: | MFP. From Small Heath, Birmingham. Awarded the 1915 Star, Victory and War Medals. First served abroad (1) France, 20/5/15 to 11/11/18. Info from Army record: Enlisted 7/4/1915, age 30 years, 475 Green Lane, Small Heath, Birmingham, formerly a civil policeman in Birmingham City police. 31/12/08 he married Julia Elizabeth Jane Meadowcroft, spinster at St. James's Church, Bournemouth Served Home 7/4/1915 to 9/5/1915, BEF France 20/5/1915 to 18/12/1918, Home 19/12/1918 to 10/1/1919. Embarked for France 6/5/1915, Joined L of C, Abbeville for duty, 12/5/1918. Admitted to 5 Stationary Hospital, Abbeville, bullet wound abdomen (see below), Discharged 3/9/1916, 19/9/1916 joined 5 Army in the field, 11/6/1917 Joined 3 Army in the field, 4/8/1917 to PM 1 Army. 6/7/1918 to 5 Army. 11/1/1919 Invalided to England from Boulogne, physically unfit for further war service (heart trouble). Part of a statement in documents, 3rd Witness: No. 9452 L/Cpl G Horton, 2nd Border Regiment, attached to MFP states:- At Abbeville on 29 Aug 1916 about 9.25 pm I was sitting in the dining room at the Police Billet, Rue Jean d'Arc when I heard a report. Turning round I saw Cpl Riley and Pte Brunsden on the floor. Brunsden said "I have shot that man accidentally". Being a qualified first aid man I examined both men but could find no wound on Riley who appeared to have been hit in the stomach. Brunsden had a hole through his left hand which I at once bandaged. Signed John P Allan President, Capt APM Advanced Base. Herewith Court of Inquiry. Pte J Brunsden was not on duty, but I consider that he was to blame in picking up the revolver, but the owner was equally to blame in having left the revolver loaded. Col J Hulton. 2/9/1916. Discharged Medically unfit, 10/1/1919. 31/12/08 married Julia Elizabeth Jane Meadowcroft at St James's Church Bournemouth, Hampshire.
Info from Pension Index Cards:- SB.36-APW. Widows. 6/APW/1756. Widow Riley, Julia, Elizabeth,
Husband Riley, James Edward, MFP, P/1100, A/CSM, widow born 1882, children four, 4/12/20 widow received 35/7 per week + 29/6 for children. Also:- Riley, James Edward, MFP. P/1100, 1/1/19 to discharge, SFJ.1480, 475 Green Lane, Small Heath, Birmingham. Stamp: Ad 23/1/19 at 40/3 from 11/1/19 to 15/7/19, Chelsea no. VV50.1942, received 24/1/19.
James Edward Riley.
Extract from the Sports Argus, 23/11/1918.
The local swimming community will have doubtless noted that "Policeman" Jimmy Riley has had the French Legion of Honour conferred upon him for conspicuous bravery attending to wounded under fire. But before he went to France he showed that he was chock full of courage on more than one occasion. The fine physique that he has and a powerful swimmer, that it was no mean feat to jump into a canal lock as he did to save a man's life by the action. "Jimmy" was quite a favourite at Green Lane Baths, and was a polo player of repute. His rank now is Sergeant-Major in the Military Foot Police. My congratulations to him, although belated, not suffer from sincerity in that respect. |
