Sergeant John Thomas Riley
11171 6th East Lancashire Regiment
Died of Wounds received in Gallipoli 24th August 1915, aged 23
Lived at 15 Baker Street
Buried in Alexandria (Chatby) Cemetery, Egypt
Burnley Express 8/9/1915 (P)

An extract from the last letter from John Riley written by his ‘chum’ Ernest A Goulding

I am sorry to inform you that I have been hit in the arm and head by shrapnel. Sorry to say I have lost my left arm and am now on my way to Alexandria to recuperate in one of the hospitals there. I fancy I will be with you sometime in September.

Letter from Private J Langan to John’s parents

I hardly know how to begin this letter to you, but it is with deepest regret that I have to tell you that your son Jack died in our hospital last night. He came in here about a week ago. He was shot in the head and his left arm was amputated. We were known to each other in Burnley, as I have travelled in all the clubs there singing, and of course, I have given him every care and attention but he seemed to gradually sink and died unconscious. He was unconscious for about 48 hours before he died, but previous to that he seemed to be progressing nicely, and we had many a little chat about you all and I promised to write and let you know all about him even had he lived, as he was too bad to write himself. He will be buried today at a place named Chatby, close by Alexandria, with full military honours. He has died a noble death and is really one of our heroes. Although it will be a sad blow to you, you will have the consolation of knowing you have given one the best to his King and country, and I am sure if there is a heaven that all these noble boys will find a place there.