BORN SUTTON, HULL, 1877. SON OF JOHN RILEY (1838-1890) AND MARY BRANNAN. HIS MOTHER REMARRIED. HE HAD A YOUNGER SISTER, TWO HALF BROTHERS AND A HALF SISTER.
HE WAS MARRIED ON 24/12/1898. TO JANE ANN LOWTHER (1880-1932), AT ST MARYS CATHOLIC CHURCH, SCULCOATES, HULL. HAD SEVEN CHILDREN WHO LIVED AT 6 ALSAKA STREET, HULL (ARMY RECORDS ADDRESS). HE WAS A STOKER AND GAS HOUSE LABOURER. HE HAD PREVIOUSLY SERVED IN THE 4TH EYR TERRITORIALS. HIS ARMY RECORDS DESCRIBED HIM AS 5 FOOT, 10 INCHES TALL, 159 LBS WEIGHT, 37-39 INCH CHEST.
HE ENLISTED IN THE HULL PALS, ON 16/11/1914. SERVED EGYPT. ARRIVED FRANCE ON 08/03/1916. KILLED IN ACTION, AT SERRE, ON 13/11/1916, AGED 39.
HIS DEATH WAS REPORTED IN THE HULL DAILY MAIL, ON 9/13TH JAN 1917 & 13/11/1918. TWO OF HIS CHILDREN DIED YOUNG. HIS WAR PENSION WENT TO HIS WIDOW AND FIVE CHILDREN. SHE REMARRIED AND BECAME JANE ANN LEWIS, MOVING TO 6 ENDYMION STREET, 41 DURHAM STREET, AND 7 BERSHIRE STREET, HULL.
MARK ARMSTRONG NEVER SAW HIS YOUNGEST SON JOHN WILFRED WHO WAS BORN 09/08/1916. HE IS COMMEMORATED ON THE BRITISH GAS LIGHT AND COKE COMPANY WAR MEMORIAL, KEPT AT FAKENHAM GAS WORKS MUSEUM.
