Serjeant Ezra Riley, 9th (Service) Battalion Cameronians (Scottish Rifles), Service N° 27710

[George Millar]

Ezra Riley was born illegitimate on the 17th January 1881 in Padiham, Burnley, Lancashire to mother Ellen Ann Riley.  At this time Ellen Ann, a weaver, was still only eighteen years old and living with her parents in Back Alma Street in Padiham. However, four years later on the 17th October 1885 she married James Stephenson in the local parish church in Padiham, the marriage witnessed by Daniel Hawthorne & Sarah Elizabeth Smith. By the time of the 1891 England census, Ellen Ann had given birth to another son Jim Stephenson and the family was living in N° 34 West Street in Padiham. James was working as a “Mule Cotton Spinner” in one of the local mills in the town.

Ezra decided to join the Army and he enlisted into the Cameronians (Scottish Rifles) on the 8th April 1899 and given the Service N° 6524. (James Pyper, Service N° 6526 enlisted on this date).  Although Ezra’s service record doesn’t exist, that of James Pyper does and it states that he was posted to the 2nd Battalion on the 8th July 1899 and then to South Africa on the 7th June 1900. Ezra also served with the 2nd Battalion in South Africa and it is assumed that his military career path is similar to that of James. Ezra and James were awarded the South Africa Medal with the Cape Colony, Orange Free State and Transvaal clasps and the Kings South Africa Medal with the 1901 & 1902 clasps. James returned “Home” on the 27th May 1904 but Ezra was posted to India with the 2nd battalion following the South African campaign.

James Pyper was transferred to the Army Reserve on the 7th April 1907 and then discharged on the 7th April 1911 on termination of his first period of engagement. It is assumed that Ezra followed in a similar vein. By 1908 Ezra was back in the United Kingdom as he married Mary Jane Taylor (Nee Hirst) on the 2nd May 1908 in the local parish church in Padiham.  According to the marriage record Ezra was working as a “Moulder” probably in a local iron foundry. By the 1911 England census, Ezra was living with his new family at N° 22 John Street in Padiham and working in an Iron Foundry as a “Stove Grate Maker”.

James Pyper attested into the Scottish Rifles Army Reserve Section “D” on the 16th May 1911 and again it is assumed that Ezra followed a similar path also. On the outbreak of the First World War, it seems that Ezra was mobilized on the 5th August 1914 and then posted to the 3rd Battalion Cameronians on the 8th August 1914. He embarked for France on the 13th September 1914 and joined the 1st Battalion Cameronians (Scottish Rifles).  He was discharged on the 13th April 1916 under Para 392 (xxi) KR on termination of his period of engagement.

However, it seems that his war service was not over as he then joined the 9th (Service) Battalion Cameronians about the 18th August 1916 and given the Service N° 27710 (John Strathie, Service N° 27713 joined on this date). Ezra was unfortunately killed in action on the 12th August 1918 at the age of 37 years old. He is buried in La Kreule Military Cemetery, Hazebrouck in Ref II. E. 12.

However, from his war gratuity payment of £12, I have estimated that he re-joined sometime in September 1916 (perhaps Craig ss002d6252 could confirm which is correct). In the CWGC, he is listed as serving with the 9th Battalion Cameronians Headquarters when he was killed. I have checked the 9th Battalion’s war diary for the period 12th August 1918 but it doesn’t list any casualties. I have also checked the South African Brigade war diary but again no details of casualties for that period. Would any forum member know if there is a separate war diary for the Battalion Headquarters in order to find out what happened to him? If any of the above information is incorrect please let me know. Any other information would be appreciated.

George Millar

[ss002d6252]

3 minutes ago, George Millar said:

However, from his war gratuity payment of £12, I have estimated that he re-joined sometime in September 1916 (perhaps Craig ss002d6252 could confirm which is correct).

Craig

[ss002d6252]

He should have an entitlement of war gratuity for the first period of service, but the calculation of the war gratuity would tie in with this period being missed from the calculation (this is not unusual).

Craig

[George Millar]

Hi Craig,

Many thanks for your comments. The August 1916 date ties in nicely with the service record of James Pyper so it seems Ezra re-enlisted on this date.

George

[Swinesheadvillage]

Hi George

There is an entry on FMP from the Greater Burnley Roll of Honour with a purported cause of death and a different address (Courtesy of FMP)

 

Hope this helps

Kind Regards

Derek

[ss002d6252]

5 Higham is the mother's address.

https://www.fold3.com/image/669498810?terms=27710,riley


Craig

[George Millar]

Hi Derek & Craig,

Thanks for the comments and the info. From the Greater Burnley Roll of Honour it lists that Ezra was killed by a sniper on the 12th August 1918.  Is there any way of confirming this? perhaps in the war diary?  Craig, Ellen's husband James Stephenson died in 1910 in Burnley at the young age of 48 years and in the 1911 England census she was living at N° 12 Well Street in Padiham so it seems she relocated to N° 5 Higham Street sometime after that.  Once again many thanks for the info.

George

[Swinesheadvillage]

Hi George

I put 'purported'because he was part of Battalion HQ which on a quiet day would probably be further back from the front line. In addition, he was a highly experienced soldier who probably wouldn't be taking a peek for the sake of it. I suspect the 'shot by a sniper' came from a letter from a comrade or commander and probably finished 'died without feeling pain'.  An explanation that would have been expected to provide comfort to a grieving widow/mum.

Ezra is commemorated on the Padiham war memorial.

Hope this helps

Kind Regards

Derek

 

[ss002d6252]

The problem often is a case of saying whether it was a sniper or a random unspent round that was whizzing the wrong way for him on that day. I doubt you could ever say.

Craig

[George Millar]

Hi Derek & Craig,

Thanks once again for your comments. You are probably correct in that we will never know for sure what happened to him. What would his role have been at the battalion headquarters? As regards the Padiham War Memorial, yes his name is on it and I have the photos in my files.

George

[Tom Lang]

I am attaching snippets of my transcription of the 9th WD covering the date 12 Aug 1918.

Hope this helps.

Tom.

[George Millar]

Hi Tom,

Many thanks for the copies of the war diary. I already have it and I as said in my comments above, the only casualties mentioned are a 2nd Lieut who was injured by a sniper and a Lieut who was killed whilst out with a working party. No other rank casualties are listed.  Many thanks once again.

George

[Tom Lang]

22 hours ago, George Millar said:

Hi Tom,

Many thanks for the copies of the war diary. I already have it and I as said in my comments above, the only casualties mentioned are a 2nd Lieut who was injured by a sniper and a Lieut who was killed whilst out with a working party. No other rank casualties are listed.  Many thanks once again.

George

Yes, I did see that. But my posting of transcriptions of the WD was not intended for your sole benefit, but for that of other GWF members who like to see pictures - they always like to see pictures. It also helps others who have not read the WD, to get a better view on what did or did not happen, and allows for a wider understanding.

Just my input, for the benefit of all.

Kindest Regards,

Tom.

[Smithy26]

With regard to other casualties on 12/08/1918, the 9th Bttn suffered two further KIA - Pte. Anderson & Pte. Keith.

[George Millar]

Hello Tom,

Sorry, I apologize if I offended you with my comment ref the war diary. I was just remarking that I had already looked at it for the period of the 12th August 1918. 

Smithy26,

Thanks for the heads-up on the other two 9th Battalion casualties who died on the same date as Ezra.  Pte Keith is buried in grave V.H.804 of the Meteren Military Cemetery in France whereas Pte Anderson is commemorated on the Ploegsteert Memorial in Belgium.  I'll look a bit further into their military service to see if anything comes up ref their deaths.

Thanks once again for the comments

George

[Tom Lang]

22 hours ago, George Millar said:

Hello Tom,

Sorry, I apologize if I offended you with my comment ref the war diary. I was just remarking that I had already looked at it for the period of the 12th August 1918. 

Smithy26,

Thanks for the heads-up on the other two 9th Battalion casualties who died on the same date as Ezra.  Pte Keith is buried in grave V.H.804 of the Meteren Military Cemetery in France whereas Pte Anderson is commemorated on the Ploegsteert Memorial in Belgium.  I'll look a bit further into their military service to see if anything comes up ref their deaths.

Thanks once again for the comments

George

You did not offend and none was taken. I am equally enthralled when I am researching a soldier, and I too think of my research only, but I have learned that many GWF members read posts that may be of interest to them, or just may have a passing glance. So I have learned to try to be of assistance, especially when I have information to share that may/not be useful.

Thanks for your reply.

Kindest Regards,

Tom.

[George Millar]

Had a look at the "burnleyinthegreatwar" website and they have Ezra listed in the "Burnley Roll of Honour for the Burnley Men who served in, and survived the Great War". I tried emailing them to correct this error but my emails keep being bounced back. Perhaps there is something wrong with my email account but will try again later.

George