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Canadian Virtual War Memorial

Virgil Lee Riley

In memory of:

Flying Officer Virgil Lee Riley

October 15, 1944
Idum, Denmark

Military Service


Service Number:

J/35063

Age:

33

Force:

Air Force

Unit:

Royal Canadian Air Force

Division:

424 Sqdn.

Citation(s):

1939-45 Star, France and Germany Star, Defence Medal, War Medal 1939-45, Canadian Volunteer Service Medal and Clasp.

Additional Information


Born:

April 26, 1911
Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan

Enlistment:

July 10, 1942
Calgary, Alberta

Son of Arthur Scott and Thelma Annie I. (née Talley) Riley of Rossland, British Columbia. Brother of Ralph, Lester, Carl, Charles, Alexander, George and Velma. Husband of Ivy Kazia (nee Belbeck) Riley and father of Sherrel Anne and Carol Lee, of Castlegar, British Columbia.

Commemorated on Page 428 of the Second World War Book of Remembrance. Request a copy of this page. Download high resolution copy of this page.

Burial Information


Cemetery:

IDUM CHURCHYARD
Denmark

Grave Reference:

Coll. grave 270-276.

Information courtesy of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.

Digital Collection

Send us your images

  • Grave marker– Submitted for the project, Operation Picture Me
  • Photo of VIRGIL LEE RILEY– Parents. Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me
  • Photo of VIRGIL LEE RILEY– Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me
  • Photo of VIRGIL LEE RILEY– Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me
  • Photo of VIRGIL LEE RILEY– Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me
  • Letter– Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me
  • Letter– Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me
  • Funeral– Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me
  • Funeral– Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me
  • Funeral– Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me
  • Photo of Virgil Riley– My Father

Photo of F/O Virgil Lee Riley. I was a year old when I last saw my father.
 
Carolee

Submitted on behalf of Carolee
by Operation Picture Me
  • Photo of Virgil Riley– My Father

Photo of F/O Virgil Lee Riley and his wife, Ivy Belbeck Riley taken in September 1943.  This is my favourite
photo.   I believe they were both heros...she was left
with 2 daughters age 6 and 2 when he was killed in 1944..and went on to build our house with her own hands,
take jobs outside the home when few women did, and
gave us a good life.  I was a year old when I last saw my
father.
 
Carolee

Submitted on behalf of Carolee
by Operation Picture Me
  • Funeral– The funeral of Virgil and his Crew Mates.

Submitted on behalf of his daughter Carolee 
by Operation Picture Me
  • Cemetery
  • Memorial– Flying Officer Virgil Lee Riley is commemorated on the Bomber Command Memorial Wall in Nanton, AB … photo courtesy of Marg Liessens
  • Memorial– Father J P Lardie's comments as inscribed on the Bomber Command Memorial Wall in Nanton, AB … photo courtesy of Marg Liessens
  • Memorial– Flying Officer Virgil Lee Riley is commemorated on the Bomber Command Memorial Wall in Nanton, AB … photo courtesy of Marg Liessens

Learn more about the Canadian Virtual War Memorial

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