Current Information:

Age-25

Born-Peckham

On 10th February, 1915, the 2nd Shropshire Light Infantry of 80 Brigade, 27th Division, moved into the front line to the north of Dickebusch near Ypres. William Riley was killed on 12th February, the day they were relieved, but the battalion diary has no information concerning his death. The attrition rate among British soldiers on the Western Front was on average 300 each day and 60% of these were as a result of shellfire. When not involved in an actual battle it was either shell fire or a sniper’s bullet that caused most deaths and injuries.