We Remember

Finley Riches

Rank: 
Private
Regimental number: 
42573
Unit at enlistment: 
3rd Brigade C.F.A., 9th Battery
Force: 
C.E.F.
Volunteered or conscripted: 
Volunteered
Survived the war: 
Yes
Cemetery: 
Mount Hope Cemetery, Soldiers' Plot, Brantford, Ontario
Commemorated at: 
Brantford Congregational Church PSA Brotherhood
Birth country: 
England
Birth county: 
Norfolk
Address at enlistment: 
208 Wellington Street, Brantford, Ontario
Next of kin address: 
208 Wellington Street, Brantford, Ontario
Trade or calling: 
Painter
Employer: 
Massey-Harris Co.
Religious denominations: 
Roman Catholic
Marital status: 
Single
Age at enlistment: 
27
Image gallery: 

Letters and documents

May 19, 1915

Paid a High Price

“The Canadian Boys made a name for themselves, but I think that they paid very heavily for it” says Signaller F. Riches, in a letter received yesterday by Mrs. Riches. The letter reads:

1915
Signaller F. Riches
4th Battery, 1st Artillery Bde,
First Canadian Contingent

Dear Wife,

You will be wondering why I have kept you so long waiting without a letter. Well, we have been so busy at the Germans that we have had hardly time to do anything. We have had another shift since I last wrote, and we are now in the thick of it just now. It has been an awful place these last three days and I guess it will last quite a bit longer as the Germans have very good trenches in this part of the country.

I have seen some awful sights and I hope it will soon be all over. The roar of guns is terrible. We have had several of our men badly wounded and one killed. We will miss him, as he was a very nice boy. One of our officers was slightly wounded in the head but he never took any notice of that. He looked after the other boys before himself. The Germans are a dirty bunch, using any means to get our boys. It would be a good plan to kill them off as they are taken prisoners, but the English are not that kind, to kill a man when they take him.

Our Canadian boys have made a great name for themselves, but I think that they paid very heavily for it. I could not get any news of the Brantford boys. I hope they got through alright, I hardly think so.

Your loving husband,

F. Riches

BX March 3, 1957

Victim of Fall, Finley Riches Dies in Hospital

Finley (Sid) Riches, 68 of R4 Brantford died in the Toronto General Hospital on Sunday, eight days after he was injured in a fall on a flight of stairs.

Mr. Riches was born in England, and came to Canada in 1911.

He was a veteran of the First World War, serving overseas with the “Mad Fourth” Battalion.  He was a member of the Imperial Club.

Surviving are one son, Allan, R.4 Brantford; three daughters, Mrs. K. (Marie) Lefler, Windsor, Mrs. D. (Ida) McBride an Mrs. N. (Florence) Gray, both of Brantford; one brother, Allan Marshall, England; two sisters, Mrs. F. Cadwell, Norwich, England, and Mrs. R. Monks, Reading, England and 13 grandchildren.  His wife predeceased him 32 years ago.

Mr. Riches is resting at the Hill and Robinson Funeral Home until Wednesday, when service will be conducted at 3.30 p.m.  Interment will be in the Soldiers’ Plot in Mount Hope Cemetery.

BX March 6, 1957

Finley G. Riches

The funeral of Finley (Sid) riches was conducted Wednesday afternoon at the Hill and Robinson Chapel with the Rev. Dr. G. Deane Johnston, Central Presbyterian Church, officiating.  Many relatives and friends attended and there was a profusion of flowers.  Pallbearers were Sam Williamson, Ed. Baker, George MacKellar, James Monoogian, Ernie Stanbridge and Pat Henderson. Interment was in the Soldiers Plot in Mount Hope Cemetery.

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