Edwin Riley was born in East Melbourne in July 1898. When he enlisted on 19 October, 1916, he was 28 years old, married to Lilian Ida Riley and livng at 16 Harmsworth St., Collingwood, Victoria. He had previous military experience in 1911, serving with the Australian Field Artilery (FA). He was 28 years old, 5' 6 1/2" tall, an iron worker,with blue eyes and brown hair. His religion was Church of England. On 30 October 1916, he was assigned to the Field Artillery Reinforcements at Maribynong as a gunner. He embarked on HMAT A9  from Melbourne on 11 May 1917 and landed at Plymouth on 19  July that year. He left England for France on 17 October, joining the 12th Army Australian Field Battalion and was taken on strength at Rouelles on 21 October, Fron here, he was assigned to the 45th Battalion, serving in Belgium on the Western Front. On 14 December, he was ill, and sent to hospital by Field Ambulance, where he stayed until 21 December before returning to duty.  He returned to Australia on HMAS  Point Napier on 2 July 1919 and diembarked on 5 October that year.

In all, Edwin Riley served a total of 1055 days in the war, from 19 October 1916 to 5 September 1919. He served in France from 11 May 1919 to 2 July 1919. He received the British War Medal, the 1914-15 Star and the Victory medal. In 1924, he was living at 157 Cromwell St., Collingwood.