Five: Chief Inspector J. M. Riley, Lancashire Constabulary, late Mercantile Marine, who was awarded the National Canine Defence League Silver Medal for saving 2 dogs from drowning in the River Ribble in 1930

British War and Mercantile Marine War Medals (James M. Riley.); Defence Medal; Police L.S. & G.C., G.VI.R. (Ch. Inspr. James M. Riley); National Canine Defence League Medal, silver, the reverse engraved ‘To P.C. Riley. For Saving 2 Dogs. 1930’, with decorative suspension bar and top riband bar, and decorative slide to riband, nearly extremely fine (5) £100-£140

James Mossop Riley was born in Barrow-in-Furness, Lancashire, on 31 October 1898 and served during the Great War with the Mercantile Marine. He joined the Lancashire Constabulary on 8 July 1925, and was promoted Sergeant on 1 December 1932; Inspector on 1 January 1946; and Chief Inspector on 1 February 1950. He received a commendation and a gratuity of £2, for stopping two runaway horses, on 21 November 1929, and the following year was awarded the silver medal of the National Canine Defence League ‘for plucky conduct in effecting the rescue of two dogs from the River Ribble that were in imminent danger of drowning’ on 29 December 1930. He retired in July 1951, and died at Garstang on 25 January 1972.

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