Pte
George Collolo Riley
Information about birth
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Date of birth: 03/11/1894 |
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Place of birth: Edenhope, Victoria, Australia |
General information
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Last known residence: Edenhope, Victoria, Australia |
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Profession: Labourer |
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Religion: Church of England |
Army information
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Country: Australia |
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Force: Australian Imperial Force |
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Rank: Private |
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Service number: 2428 |
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Enlistment date: 24/09/1915 |
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Enlistment place: Broadmeadows, Victoria, Australia, Australia |
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Units: — Australian Pioneers, 2nd Bn. (Last known unit) |
Information about death
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Date of death: 19/09/1917 |
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Place of death: Witte Poort Farm, Belgium |
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Cause of death: Killed in action (K.I.A.) |
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Age: 22 |
Cemetery
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Birr Cross Roads Cemetery Plot: III Row: A Grave: 3 |
Distinctions and medals 2
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British War Medal Medal |
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Victory Medal Medal |
Points of interest 4
| #1 | Place of birth | ||
| #2 | Last known residence | ||
| #3 | Enlistment place | ||
| #4 | Place of death (approximate) |
My story
George Collolo Riley was the son of William and Elizabeth Riley. He was born on 3 November 1894 in Edenhope, Victoria, Australia. He continued to live at his birthplace and worked as a labourer. His father died in 1914. In September 1915, George enlisted in the Australian Army. He joined the 2nd Battalion Australian Pioneers (2nd Division).
George was killed on 19 September 1917 during preparations for the attack later known as the Battle of Menin Road, part of the Battle of Passchendaele. Since early September they had been working to build a road from Cambridge Road, west of Birr Cross Road to Hooghe, east of Bellewaerde Lake. On 19 September, they were between the Ypres-Roulers railway and the Menin Road, just east of Hellfire Corner. In addition, the battalion also sent out patrols.
Although they were not on the front line, the work was not without dangers: on 19 September, two men died and eight were wounded. One of those killed was 23-year-old George Collolo Riley. He died near Witte Poort Farm. Today he is buried in Birr Cross Road Cemetery (plot III, row A, grave 3).
George was killed on 19 September 1917 during preparations for the attack later known as the Battle of Menin Road, part of the Battle of Passchendaele. Since early September they had been working to build a road from Cambridge Road, west of Birr Cross Road to Hooghe, east of Bellewaerde Lake. On 19 September, they were between the Ypres-Roulers railway and the Menin Road, just east of Hellfire Corner. In addition, the battalion also sent out patrols.
Although they were not on the front line, the work was not without dangers: on 19 September, two men died and eight were wounded. One of those killed was 23-year-old George Collolo Riley. He died near Witte Poort Farm. Today he is buried in Birr Cross Road Cemetery (plot III, row A, grave 3).
Sources 3
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2nd Battalion Australian Pioneers, (Australian War Memorial, Campbell (AWM), AWM4 14/14/16). https://www.awm.gov.au/ Sources used |
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First Australian Imperial Force Personnel Dossiers, 1914-1920, (National Archives of Australia, Canberra (NAA), B2455, RILEY G C). https://www.naa.gov.au/ Sources used |
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Unit embarkation nominal rolls, 1914-18 War (Australian War Memorial, Campbell (AWM), AWM 8). https://www.awm.gov.au/ Sources used |
More information 4
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Lives of the First World War (Imperial War Museum) https://livesofthefirstworldwar.iwm.org.uk/lifestory/7562549 |
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Commonwealth War Graves Commission Database https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/460185 |
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Namenlijst (In Flanders Fields Museum) https://namenlijst.org/publicsearch/#/person/_id=c44569bf-1886-4576-9524-9f4d1813c40c |
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The AIF Project (UNSW Canberra) https://www.aif.adfa.edu.au/showPerson?pid=255593 |