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 WEEKLY WAR PENSION OF 31 SHILLINGS AND THREEPENCE, WENT TO HIS WIDOW AND FIVE CHILDREN. SHE REMARRIED AND BECAME JANE ANN LEWIS, MOVING TO 63, 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.
