Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of Edwin Fox Riley, a granite sett maker, born in the July quarter of 1865 in Stoney Stanton, Leicestershire and baptised on the 7th June 1865 in St. Michael’s Church, Stoney Stanton (son of Thomas Adcock Riley, 1845-1914 and Mary Hannah (Anna) Fox, 1845-1897) and his wife Elizabeth Riley (nee Stevens, married on the 19th March 1888 in St. Peter’s Church, Belgrave, Leicester), born in the January quarter of 1868 in Stoney Stanton and baptised on the 9th August 1868 in St. Michael’s Church, Stoney Stanton (daughter of Isaac Stevens, 1853 and Harriet Farmer, 1842). Percy Stevens was born on the 13th July 1894 in Stoney Stanton and baptised on the 19th August 1894 in St. Michael’s Church, Stoney Stanton, his siblings were, Linda Harriet Elizabeth, born in the July quarter of 1888 and baptised on the 22nd July 1888 in St. Michael’s Church, Stoney Stanton, Vera Constance, born on the 22nd November 1889 and baptised on the 19th January 1890 in St. Michael’s Church, Stoney Stanton, Sydney Edwin, born on the 30th January 1892 and baptised on the 17th April 1892 in St. Michael’s Church, Stoney Stanton, Ernest Isaac, born on the 15th July 1896 and baptised on the 16th August 1896 in St. Michael’s Church, Stoney Stanton, Agnes Mary, born on the 11th October 1898 and baptised on the 20th November 1898 in St. Michael’s Church, Stoney Stanton and Clarence Thomas, born on the 22nd October 1900 and baptised on the 16th December 1900 in St. Michael’s Church, Stoney Stanton, all his siblings were born in Stoney Stanton, in March 1901 the family home was at Manorfield Cottages, Stoney Stanton. In April 1911 Percy was employed as a shoe trade heel fitter and was residing in the family home at Hinckley Road, Stoney Stanton, together with his mother and siblings, Vera, a hosiery trade linker, Ernest, a hosiery trade trimmer, Agnes, a schoolgirl, Clarence, a schoolboy and Harold, a schoolboy, born on the 3rd October 1902 in Stoney Stanton and baptised on the 16th November 1902 in St. Michael’s Church, Stoney Stanton. Percy’s older brother Sydney, fell in action on the 13th October 1915.
Percy enlisted into the Army on a Short Service engagement of Three years with the Colours on the 3rd October 1914 in Leicester. He gave his place of birth as Stoney Stanton, Leicestershire and his age as 20 years and 80 days. He gave his trade or calling as shoe hand and confirmed that he was unmarried. He gave his father Edwin Riley, his mother Elizabeth, 4 brothers and 3 sisters, all of Stoney Stanton, Leicestershire as his next of kin. His medical examination recorded that he was 5 foot 7 inches in height, weighed 155 pounds and he had a chest measurement of between 35½ and 38 inches. His complexion was described as fresh, his hair colour was dark brown and he had grey eyes. He gave his religion as Church of England. He was pronounced fit for Army service. His record of service began when he joined the Depot of the Leicestershire Regiment as a Private, service number 15577 on the 3/10/14. Posted to the 6th Battalion Leicestershire Regiment on the 25/10/14. Embarked to join the British Expeditionary Force in France on the 29/7/15. Appointed paid Lance Corporal on the 27/9/15. Appointed acting Corporal on the 19/3/16. Confirmed in the rank of Corporal on the 22/3/16. Admitted to the 64th Field Ambulance suffering from a gunshot wound to the right shoulder on the 14/7/16. Transferred to the 45th Casualty Clearing Station on the 14/7/16. Transferred to the General Hospital, Wimereaux, France on the 15/7/16. Transferred to England by Hospital Ship Jan Breydel on the 25/7/16. Admitted to the Military Hospital, Endell Street, London suffering from gunshot wounds in the lumbar region, (two large wounds in his back) on the 26/7/16. On the 4/8/16 he haemorrhaged during the evening this was plugged. On the 5/8/16 he again suffered a haemorrhage at 4:00am and again at 5:15am when he died from heart failure. A summary of his service records; Home Service, 3/10/14 – 18/7/15 299 days. British Expeditionary Force, France, 29/7/15 – 5/8/16, 1 year 9 days. Total service 1 year 308 days. Percy was awarded the 1914-15 Star, British and Victory Medals. The following information was provided by Percy’s father Edwin, of Long Street, Stoney Stanton, Leicestershire on the 13th May 1919, and was witnessed and signed by A. E. W. Dainty, Rector, Stoney Stanton Rectory, Hinckley, Leicestershire on ARMY FORM W. 5080 (Information on deceased soldier’s family) Father of soldier, Edwin Riley of Stoney Stanton, Hinckley. Mother of soldier, Elizabeth Riley of Stoney Stanton, Hinckley. Full blood brothers of soldier, 297392, Gunner E. Riley, age 22 of the R.G.A. serving with the Mesopotamia E.F. Clarence Riley, age 18 of Stoney Stanton, Hinckley. Harold Riley, age 16 of Stoney Stanton, Hinckley. Full blood sisters of soldier, Linda Riley, age 30 of Stoney Stanton, Hinckley. Vera Blakemore, age 29 of Stoney Stanton, Hinckley. Agnes Riley, age 20 of Stoney Stanton, Hinckley. His elder brother Sydney Edwin also fell in action.
On Saturday October 17th 1914, The Leicester Chronicle and Leicestershire Mercury published the following article under the heading. “FOOTBALLERS ENLIST.” – The two brothers, Sidney and Percy Riley, sons of Mr. E. V. Riley (a professional cricketer), have both joined the forces. Both are well known players and members of Stanton Swifts F.C. Their absence from play during the future matches of the club will be much felt. They carry with them, however, the good wishes of their comrades and the inhabitants generally, by whom they are held in high esteem.
The War Diary records: 14-17 July-16 – FRICOURT. The 110th Brigade attacked and captured BAZENTIN – LE – PETIT WOOD and village and held same. Appendix I. The action attached.
Narrative of action of the 6th Battalion Leicestershire Regiment from 3.00am 14/7/16 to 8.00am 17/7/16.
The Battalion moved from FRICOURT WOOD via the southern and eastern edge of MAMETZ WOOD and reached the north east corner of this wood just before 3.00am. The Battalion was formed in four lines by 3.15am under a fairly heavy bombardment and lined up with the 7th Battalion LEICESTERSHIRE REGT. on its left about 100 yards in front of MAMETZ WOOD. At 3.25am 1st and 2nd lines advanced on German first line, and five minutes later the third and fourth lines advanced, and, crossing first line, assaulted and took the German second line. The first German line was very much knocked about and some 25 or 30 prisoners were taken in it. The right Company blocked German first line trench on right of the attack, and also the same in the German second line. While crossing “No man’s” land the barrage was not very severe but the two right Companies suffered a good many casualties from enemy machine guns in BAZENTIN-LE-GRAND WOOD, which had not then been cleared by 7th Division on our right. There were also two enemy machine guns in the south east corner of BAZENTIN-LE-PETIT WOOD. These were charged by the third and fourth lines and the detachments killed, and the guns taken. There were not a large number of Germans in second line when it was entered. The trenches had been so knocked about that it was difficult to consolidate them. At 4.00am first and second lines, leaving small parties to deal with any dugouts, advanced to German second line, which was also being consolidated by the third and fourth lines. At 4.20am three platoons remained in German second line, and the rest of the Battalion advanced to the “one hour” line, which was reached after suffering a good many casualties from enfilade fire from the direction of BAZENTIN-LE-GRAND WOOD. Soon after this the enemy, retiring in front of the 7th Division from BAZENTIN-LE-GRAND WOOD on our right, were enfiladed from the eastern edge of the wood by our Lewis guns, and suffered heavy losses. For some time, the right Company had to form a defensive flank as many of the enemy were trying to get from BAZENTIN-LE-GRAND WOOD to BAZENTIN-LE-PETIT WOOD. At 5.20am the Battalion advanced to the “two hour” line and remained there till 6.00am, waiting for the 7th Division to come up on our right. At 6.00am the Battalion was reinforced by several platoons of the 9th Battalion LEICESTERSHIRE REGT. At 6.05am the line advanced against the village, and, the left of the 7th Division not being up, the whole village was assaulted and taken, and 3 officers and 200 prisoners. At 6.40am the ROYAL IRISH RIFLES entered the village and the eastern portion was handed over to them. At 7.15am the Battalion occupied and began consolidating the line from the northern end of the village, thence southwards to the north eastern point of BAZENTIN-LE-PETIT WOOD, thence along northern edge of wood halfway to the railway. An attempt to get the real objective was heavily enfiladed from a point just outside the wood near the railway. About 50 prisoners were taken in a trench along northern edge of wood. At 8.30am the enemy made a counter attack against the northern portion of village. The 7th Division who were not very strong here fell back on cemetery. The Battalion conformed and held northern edge of wood and the prolongation of same through the village. At 9.15am the 7th Division were reinforced and retook eastern portion of village, and the Battalion resumed its previous line, joining up with the 7th Division north of the village. At 3.00pm the enemy made another counter attack against northern and north eastern edge of village. Many of them reached the road running from north end of village to railway and were at once stopped by our rifle and Lewis Gun fire. The Battalion held and consolidated this position on the night of the 14th and also on the 15th there was no change. At 2.00am on the 16th a party of one officer and 50 men were sent out to try to consolidate the original objective along the road. They were preceded by a party of one officer and 40 men of the YORKSHIRE REGT. The latter party got to the road and held it for some time while our party was trying to consolidate, but were heavily bombed and enfiladed from enemy post just outside wood near railway, and was forced to retire. On the night of the 16th the Battalion was relieved by the 10th KING’S OWN YORKSHIRE LIGHT INFANTRY and the Battalion went into bivouac just south of FRICOURT WOOD, arriving there at 1.00am the 17th instant. The Battalion suffered the following casualties 7 officers killed and 20 wounded. 500 other ranks killed, wounded and missing.
16 July-16 - 6th Battalion right supported by 9th LEICESTERSHIRE REGT. 7th Battalion LEICESTERSHIRE REGT. on left supported by 8th Battalion LEICESTERSHIRE REGT.
17 July-16 - The Battalion marched from FRICOURT WOOD at 7.45pm and arrived at RIBEMONT at 12.30am 18th July 1916.