Mexborough and Swinton Times September 28, 1918

Second Lieutenant O. L. Riley, M.M.
West Yorkshire Regiment

Sec.-Lt. 0. L. Riley, M.M. son of Councillor and Mrs. William Riley, of the Butchers’ Arms, Thurnscoe, is in hospital in London, having been wounded in recent fighting in France.

In a letter home he says: “We went into action last Tuesday and made our attack on the Hindenburg Line on Wednesday morning. Everything went off well, and we took thousands of prisoners. I managed to get wounded the following morning about 8-20. Old Fritz had settled down and was busily sniping our positions.

I never thought he would get me. I was, out in front of our trench at the time, trying to pay him back in his own coin. I bad accounted for a few when I happened to move a little.. Before I could recover he had me.– He-missed my head, luckily, but he bit me in- the left hand. The bullet entered the back of the hand, , broke the thumb, and passed out through the palm. Two bones were bader a broken, and the hand is terribly swelled, but

I am pleased to say there is no fear of amputation. That is a blessing, and I may say that I am getting on very nicely.”