• Headstone
  • Newspaper clipping

RILEY, Arthur

War
1st World War
Date of Birth
Date Attested
Attested at
Clinton, Ontario
Regimental Number
53962
Rank
Sergeant
Date of Death
Age at Death
25 years
Biographical Summary

DIVISIONAL UNIT:        2nd Canadian Infantry Division
                                             4th Infantry Brigade
                                             18th Battalion – Western Ontario
                                             “D” Company
                                             Canadian Infantry Corps
SERVICE NO:                   1288904  /  53962
DATE OF BIRTH:            May 25, 1894 / 1895
                                             Manchester / Liverpool - England
DATE OF DEATH:           February 5, 1920                  25 / 26 years
CEMETERY:                     Goderich Maitland Cemetery – Goderich –
                                             County of Huron - Ontario
FATHER:                           Mr. Francis Riley – Goderich - Ontario
Occupation:                        Plumber / Finisher               Religion:     Presbyterian
Enlistment:                         September 22, 1914     Valcartier – Quebec  /  October 24, 1914 – Clinton – Ontario 
Enlistment Age:                 20 years     4 months     /     20 years     5 months

Private Rilay departed Canada on the S.S. Grampain sometime in mid April 1915 and arrived in England on April 29, 1915. From the time he arrived in England until he departed for overseas duties in France he was stationed at West Sandling Camp – Surrey. He arrived overseas in France at Boulogne on September 15, 1915 and at some point in the middle of October he joined his unit in the filed.
On March 31, 1918 he was wounded severely in the face and forehead from shrapnel. There is much damage to the left eye. On the following day he is admitted to No. 18 American General Hospital - Camiers and shortly following this he is invalided to England to receive the care of specialist.
Battalion Diaries:  On March 31st the diaries state that the enemy artillery was very active onto the Battalion support and rear areas. Casualties were one man killed and two men wounded. We feel that one of those wounded was Sergeant Riley. The diaries also state that during the night of April 1 & 2 the 18th Battalion relieved the 21st Battalion with “D” Company being the left front. There were no casualties on this day. 
Sergeant departed from England and was invalided to Canada on May 21, 1919 on His Majesty’s Troopship Araguaya which landed at Portland – Maine – USA. From there he traveled to Montreal and then onto Toronto.
Sergeant Rilay died from the effects of heart failure with complications from Scarlet Fever and pneumonia at 10:20 am on February 5, 1920. Arthur had been under the care of a doctor since February 1, 1920. 
On February 20, 1919 a Medical Board met to discuss the circumstances of the death of Sergeant Riley. When Segeant Riley was admitted to N0. 2 Base Depot Hospital in Toronto on February 1st with Scarlet Fever and a rash spread evenly over his body. There were no complications upon admittance. Two days later on February 3rd Sergeant Riley compained of severe pain in his left side. His respiration became rapid and painful. His body temperature rose as did his heart rate. When he was examined consolidation base of left lung was faint. Counterirritation, medicine and stimulation proved fruitless. At 10: 20 am on 
February 5, 1920 the heart of Sergeant Riley collapsed.