Sons unearth story of father’s WW2 gallantry
awarded later.
The citation revealed Sgt Riley’s ‘outstanding gallantry’ on June 3, 1944.
It said: “For outstanding gallantry in action in the advance from ANZIO on 3rd June 44.
“The action occurred at a time when the when the British advance had been held up be (by) a wellsited screen of MGs (machine guns) and Mortars in commanding positions.
“The troop under Sgt Riley’s command was ordered to infiltrate and secure an important tactical feature.
“By skilful use of ground and handling of his troop he captured the feature after a sharp action.
“One officer & 15 ORs (other ranks); a heavy Mortar and four MG 34’s were taken.
“Sgt Riley’s personal courage and disregard of danger throughout the action were an inspiration to his men, and although wounded he consolidated on the position won, and remained there in spite of heavy enemy fire.
“The action led to the capture of an important bridge on the main axis of advance, and materially hastened the final withdrawal of the enemy.
“The success of the action can be largely attributed to Sgt Riley’s personal disregard of danger and to his fine example and courage under fire.”
The citation was complemented by a typed letter, signed by hand and from King George VI, which said: “I greatly regret that I am unable to give you personally the award which you have well earned.
“I now send it to you with my congratulations and my best wishes for your future happiness.”
Seventy-five years later and Colin can still remember his curiosity being piqued as a young child.
He said: “The first time I can recall seeing the medal, I was rooting through the draws and I was only five or six.
“There was a little box, I said ‘what’s this dad?’
“He said ‘it’s a medal I won in the war son’. “Years and years on we’ve finally realised what it means, and moreover, people I’ve spoken to when I mention where Dad won the Military Medal, they say we’ve got to get the rest.”
John said: “He was in the Queen’s Own Drafour months
● goons.
“They took, from what I’ve gathered whether it’s true or not, they took such heavy casualties by the time is was over, they slotted my dad and what’s left of them into the King’s Own Light Infantry.”
Sgt Riley, who had enlisted at the outbreak of war – reasoning that he could choose where to join and picking the infantry – remained immaculately modest for the rest of his life, barely acknowledging his medals, which also included the Italy Star.
John said: “He didn’t want to know them really.
“He put them away in a drawer, he never really looked at them.
“When he passed away, I thought there must be something we can do.
“My youngest lad is in the Marines, he’s just finished, he’s done 16 years.
“He got them mounted for us, then I wanted to know how he won the medal.
“Every time I pestered him he would never tell us, he’d never say.
“We’d ask ‘how did you win it?’
“He did tell us it was Anzio but that was it.”
They have speculated that their dad, who they recalled as a ‘ humane man’ who worked hauling sleepers around at Widnes sleeper depot by Ditton Junction, might have felt a sense of guilt that others did not make it back home.
John said: “He took such heavy losses, it must have been a feeling of guilt.
“He came through it. “What we didn’t know, he was wounded during the action and he still held the position under heavy enemy fire, which left the way open for them to take the bridge.”
Describing Sgt Riley’s modest life after the war raising his two sons and a daughter, Colin said: “He was a devoted family man,
“He never wanted for owt.”
The breakthrough came via Colin’s friend Paddy.
Colin said: “We didn’t know the story of what he did.
“Since then, I was telling our John, I spoke to this lad Paddy who was in the Paras.
“He said ‘a military medal, that’s some medal.
“He said ‘where did he win it? Anzio was one of the dirtiest, bloodiest battles of World War Two.
“They had our lads pinned down for hours with heavy guns.”
On the moment he first received the citation, Colin said: “I received it off Paddy on a Friday and I was watching TV.
“I was due to go to Turkey playing golf with a crowd of lads, he (Paddy) said ‘read this before you go to Turkey’. I got it up and when I read it I broke down in tears.”
John said: “So did I.”