Rose Ann and her sons
Ernest Cairns Riley 1916
Darren Riley and Dorothy Hall have submitted the following:
Ernest Cairns Riley was the eldest son of Hugh Patrick and Rose Ann (nee Cairns) Riley. He was born at Hexham in 1893.
In 1901 the family are at Market Street Hexham. Hugh Patrick was a plasterer.
By 1911 the family without Hugh Patrick are at 2 Orchard Place Hexham and Rose Ann is working as a Charwoman. Ernest (18) is a wool stapler at a wool warehouse. (J.B. Lobley and Sons). His other four brothers Francis Justin (15 Apprentice Ironmongery ), Joseph Hugh (13), John James (11) and Paul Dillon (5) with sisters Ann Isabella (21 Kitchen maid at a Cafe) and Patricia (8) are all living in a two roomed house. Hugh Patrick is recorded at Market Street the one roomed house which had been the family home since at least 1901.
The family were Roman Catholics and for a number of seasons Ernest was the secretary of Hexham St Patrick's A.F.C.
Ernest enlisted at Hexham and joined the 4th Northumberland Fusiliers (4/1551) at the outbreak of war. He was later transferred to the 5th Northumberland Fusiliers (5/6606) and his [service] number later changed to 241859. Ernest went to France first on 20th April 1915.
On 2nd May 1916 Ernest married Lilian Blair and they lived at Hall Stile Hexham. Ernest left Hexham for the Front August 17th 1916.
Ernest was killed in action near Warlencourt on 14th November 1916.
Rose Ann and some of her family emigrated to Australia in the 1920s. Darren Riley the grandson of Paul Dillon Riley has supplied the photographs. His father was named Ernest after his uncle.
Ernest Cairns Riley is remembered on six Hexham memorials H51.03, H51.06, H51.15, H51.26, H51.46 and H51.51
