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Catalogue

Miscellaneous documents

Reference: D/X 2064 Catalogue Title: Miscellaneous documents Area: Catalogue Category: Other Records Description: Riley-Lord family of Darlington

Covering Dates: 1910s-1960s

Access: No access restrictions

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Catalogue Description

The Riley Lord family were well established in Darlington from the late nineteenth century. Most of these records relate to the Second World War, in which many family members played an active part, particularly the local Home Guard battalion, commanded by Sydney Riley Lord.

Catalogue Contents

Riley Lord family of Darlington (Ref: D/X 2064/1-11)Sydney Riley Lord (Ref: D/X 2064/1-7)

Grandson of Sir Riley Lord, who was elected sheriff for the city of Darlington in 1892 and 1895 and as Mayor in 1899.

He served as an officer in the First World War, attaining the rank of Captain, first with the 2nd Battalion, Duke of Wellington's Regiment, then with 3rd Battalion Grenadier Guards. After the war, he served in the Coldstream Guards as part of the army of occupation. Two of his younger brothers were killed in the conflict.

He married Eva Jackson in Alnwick registration district in 1914. He appears to have had four children: Elizabeth (born 1915), Eva Vivian (born 1917), Pauline (born 1919) and Sydney (born 1930).

In 1920, he purchased Newbus Grange, Neasham, Darlington. [For related deed see D/X 1181/119]. He was a man of considerable means and had a strong social position in Hurworth-on-Tees, with strong ties to the local church, including helping its rector when he fell victim to a financial scam.

During the Second World War, he held the rank of Lieutenant Commander and commanded the 20th Durham (Darlington) Home Guard Battalion.

In 1947, he was appointed Deputy Lieutenant for the County of Durham.

First World War (Ref: D/X 2064/1/1-2)

Photograph of Sydney Riley Lord in the uniform of a captain in the Grenadier Guards, n.d. [1914-1918]
(1 photograph, 9cm x 14cm, black and white)


Photograph of Sydney Riley Lord in the uniform of a captain in the Grenadier Guards, n.d. [1914-1918]
(1 photograph, 9cm x 14cm, black and white)

Legal Action against John Jacob Factor (Ref: D/X 2064/2)

Memorandum of facts regarding a legal action by Captain S. Riley Lord against John Jacob Factor, an American ganster and con artist who ran a share scam in Britain, initially on behalf of Reverend A. T. Faber, Rector of Hurworth on Tees and later on behalf of others who had fallen victim to Factor's scheme, n.d. [1929] Includes a short biography of Captain Riley Lord and of his grandfather, Sir Riley Lord
(6 papers)

Home Guard (Ref: D/X 2064/3-4)

Home Guard certificate of Sydney Riley Lord, n.d. [1945]
(1 paper, printed)


Photograph of Sydney Riley Lord in a Home Guard uniform, n.d. [1939-1945]
(1 photograph, 9cm x 14cm, black and white)

Deputy Lieutenant (Ref: D/X 2064/5-6)

Deed appointing Sydney Riley Lord as a deputy lieutenant of the County of Durham, 5 November 1947 Includes wax seal
(1 parchment)


Photograph of Sydney Riley Lord in the uniform of a deputy lieutenant, n.d. [c.1947]
(1 photograph, 12cm x 16cm, black and white)


Photograph of Sydney Riley Lord in the uniform of a deputy lieutenant, n.d. [c.1947]
(1 photograph, 9cm x 11cm, black and white)

Eva Riley Lord (nee Jackson) (Ref: D/X 2064/7)

Eva [known as Eve] Riley Lord was Sydney's wife ran the WRVS in Darlington during World War 2. She drove a Ford V8 Pilot estate car at RAF Goosepool [which later became Teeside Airport].


Photograph of Eve Riley Lord outside a WRVS canteen in Darlington Railway Station, n.d. [1940s]
(1 photograph, 13cm x 8cm, black and white)

Scylla Riley Lord [possibly Elizabeth H.S. Riley Lord] (Ref: D/X 2064/8)

Photograph of Scylla Riley Lord in an unknown uniform outside a large building, n.d. [1940s]
(1 photograph, 9cm x 14cm, black and white)

Eva Vivian Riley Lord (Ref: D/X 2064/9)

Eva was the second daughter of Sydney Riley Lord. She was a petty officer in the WRNS, assigned on special duties to Bletchley Park and also served at the South East Asia Command listening station in Ceylon (now Sri Lanka).

She married Francis Hugh Burberry, who served in India between the First and Second World Wars.


Photograph of Eva (on right) and Pauline (on left) Riley Lord in nurses' uniforms outside Newbus Grange, Darlington, n.d. [1939-1945]
(1 photograph, 14cm x 9cm, black and white)

Pauline Riley Lord [possibly Pauline H.R. Riley Lord] (Ref: D/X 2064/10)

Youngest daughter of Sydney Riley Lord.


Photograph of Pauline Riley Lord in nurse's uniform, n.d. [1939-1945]
(1 photograph, 8cm x 14cm, black and white)

Darlington Home Guard (Ref: D/X 2064/11-16)

The 20th Battalion Durham (Darlington) Home Guard was commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Sydney Riley Lord and the second in command was Major Heslop. Their barrack room was at the cricket pavilion and they used the Abbey Road playing fields as their parade ground.

Maps (Ref: D/X 2064/11/1-3)

Map of Darlington showing location and strength of [Home Guard] companies, n.d. [1939-1945]
(1 plan, 76cm x 90cm, printed)


Map of Darlington showing location and strength of [Home Guard] companies, endorsed 'S. Riley Lord', n.d. [1939-1945]
(1 plan, 76cm x 90cm, printed)


Map of Darlington, with handwritten annotations, splitting it into 20 numbered areas, n.d. [1970s]
(1 plan, 98cm x 68cm, printed)

News Articles (Ref: D/X 2064/12)

'Darlington Home Guard: the Story of its Early Days', article reprinted from the Northern Dispatch, 30 November - 2 December 1944
(1 paper, printed)

Battalion Dinners (Ref: D/X 2064/13/1-4)

Menu for fourth annual dinner of No. 2 Platoon, 'B' Company, 20th Durham (Darlington) Battalion, Home Guard, 2 February 1944
(1 card, printed)


Invitation for Lieutenant Colonel S. Riley Lord to 'Stand Down' dinner of 20th Durham (Darlington) Battalion, Home Guard, 15 December 1944
(1 card, printed)


Menu for 'Stand Down' dinner of 20th Durham (Darlington) Battalion, Home Guard, 15 December 1944 Includes photograph of Sydney Riley Lord
(1 card, printed)


Menu for fifth annual and 'stand down' dinner of 20th (Darlington) Battalion, Home Guard, 'F' Company, No. 1 Platoon, S. Riley Lord listed as Lieutenant Colonel, 19 January 1945
(1 card, printed)

Photographs (Ref: D/X 2064/14-16)General Photographs (Ref: D/X 2064/14)

Photograph of a group of men, some in army uniform [Home Guard?] and some in suits, n.d. [1939-1945]
(3 papers)


Photograph of 20th Durham (Darlington) Battalion, Home Guard, at the cricket pavilion, Darlington, n.d. [1939-1944] [Lieutenant Colonel Riley Lord is in the centre of the second row, Major Heslop, his second in command, is immediately to the left of him]
(1 photograph, 25cm x 20cm, black and white)


Photograph of 20th Durham (Darlington) Battalion, Home Guard, at the cricket pavilion, Darlington, n.d. [1939-1944]
(1 photograph, 25cm x 20cm, black and white)


Photograph of 'A' Company, 20th Battalion Durham Home Guard, winners of the Northumbrian District Home Guard Small Bore Rile Competition, n.d. [c.1944]
(1 photograph, 12cm x 18cm, black and white)

Battalion on Parade (Ref: D/X 2064/15/1-16)

Photograph of the 20th Durham (Darlington) Home Guard Battalion on parade at Abbey Road playing fields, Darlington, with band in the foreground, n.d. [1939-1944]
(1 photograph, 20cm x 13cm, black and white)


Photograph of Lieutenant Colonel Riley Lord inspecting the Home Guard, Abbey Road playing fields, Darlington, n.d. [1939-1944]
(1 photograph, 12cm x 18cm, black and white)


Photograph of the Home Guard taking part in the church parade at Abbey Road playing fields, with Lieutenant Colonel Riley Lord in front, n.d. [1939-1944]
(1 photograph, 19cm x 13cm, black and white)


Photograph of the 20th Durham (Darlington) Home Guard Battalion on parade at Abbey Road playing Fields, Darlington, n.d. [1939-1944]
(1 photograph, 13cm x 10cm, black and white)


Photograph of the 20th Durham (Darlington) Home Guard Battalion on parade at Abbey Road playing fields, Darlington, n.d. [1939-1944]
(1 photograph, 13cm x 10cm, black and white)


Photograph of the band of the 20th Durham (Darlington) Home Guard Battalion on parade at Abbey Road playing fields, Darlington, with battalion in the background, n.d. [1939-1944]
(1 photograph, 19cm x 13cm, black and white)


Photograph of the 20th Durham (Darlington) Home Guard Battalion on parade at Abbey Road playing fields, Darlington, n.d. [1939-1944]
(1 photograph, 13cm x 10cm, black and white)


Photograph of the 20th Durham (Darlington) Home Guard Battalion on parade at Abbey Road playing fields, Darlington, n.d. [1939-1944]
(1 photograph, 13cm x 10cm, black and white)


Photograph of the 20th Durham (Darlington) Home Guard Battalion on parade at Abbey Road playing fields, Darlington, n.d. [1939-1944]
(1 photograph, 13cm x 10cm, black and white)


Photograph of the 20th Durham (Darlington) Home Guard Battalion on parade at Abbey Road playing fields, Darlington, n.d. [1939-1944]
(1 photograph, 13cm x 10cm, black and white)


Photograph of the 20th Durham (Darlington) Home Guard Battalion on parade at Abbey Road playing fields, Darlington, n.d. [1939-1944]
(1 photograph, 13cm x 10cm, black and white)


Photograph of a platoon of the 20th Durham (Darlington) Home Guard Battalion drilling with rifles at Abbey Road playing fields, Darlington, n.d. [1939-1944]
(1 photograph, 20cm x 13cm, black and white)


Photograph of the band of the 20th Durham (Darlington) Home Guard Battalion on parade at Abbey Road playing fields, Darlington, with battalion in the background, n.d. [1939-1944]
(1 photograph, 20cm x 13cm, black and white)


Photograph of the band of the 20th Durham (Darlington) Home Guard Battalion on parade at Abbey Road playing fields, Darlington, with battalion in the background, n.d. [1939-1944]
(1 photograph, 20cm x 13cm, black and white)


Photograph of the 20th Durham (Darlington) Home Guard Battalion on parade at Abbey Road playing fields, Darlington, n.d. [1939-1944]
(1 photograph, 20cm x 13cm, black and white)


Photograph of the 20th Durham (Darlington) Home Guard Battalion on parade at Abbey Road playing fields, Darlington, with Lieutenant Colonel Riley Lord in front, n.d. [1939-1944]
(1 photograph, 20cm x 13cm, black and white)

Battalion's Last Parade (Ref: D/X 2064/16/1-6)

Photograph of Lieutenant Colonel Riley Lord and Major Heslop with the Mayor of Darlington at the final parade of 20th Durham (Darlington) Home Guard Battalion, High Row, Darlington, n.d. [1939-1944] [Photograph taken by the Northern Echo]
(1 photograph, 21cm x 16cm, black and white)


Photograph of Lieutenant Colonel Riley Lord and the Mayor of Darlington at the final parade of 20th Durham (Darlington) Home Guard Battalion, High Row, Darlington, n.d. [1939-1944] [Photograph taken by the Northern Echo]
(1 photograph, 16cm x 21cm, black and white)


Photograph of soldiers marching past Lieutenant Colonel Riley Lord, Major Heslop and the Mayor of Darlington at the final parade of 20th Durham (Darlington) Home Guard Battalion, High Row, Darlington, n.d. [1939-1944] [Photograph taken by the Northern Echo]
(1 photograph, 21cm x 16cm, black and white)


Photograph of soldiers marching past Lieutenant Colonel Riley Lord, Major Heslop and the Mayor of Darlington at the final parade of 20th Durham (Darlington) Home Guard Battalion, High Row, Darlington, n.d. [1939-1944] [Photograph taken by the Northern Echo]
(1 photograph, 21cm x 16cm, black and white)


Photograph of soldiers marching past Lieutenant Colonel Riley Lord and the Mayor of Darlington at the final parade of 20th Durham (Darlington) Home Guard Battalion, High Row, Darlington, n.d. [1939-1944] [Photograph taken by the Northern Echo]
(1 photograph, 21cm x 16cm, black and white)


Photograph of Lieutenant Colonel Riley Lord and Major Heslop with the Mayor of Darlington at the final parade of 20th Durham (Darlington) Home Guard Battalion, High Row, Darlington, n.d. [1939-1944] [Photograph taken by the Northern Echo]
(1 photograph, 21cm x 16cm, black and white)

Other World War 2 Related (Ref: D/X 2064/17-23)Maps (Ref: D/X 2064/17/1-4)

'War Map No.5: Mediterranean and Northern Africa', published by the Daily Telegraph, including demilitarised zones demanded under terms of the 1940 Armistice, n.d. [c.1940]
(1 plan, 100cm x 76cm, printed, colour)


'War Map of the World', published by the Yorkshire Post, showing the areas of the world as occupied by the various military powers, 1941
(1 plan, 100cm x 76cm, printed, colour)


Map Review No. 34, produced by the Army Bureau of Current Affairs, showing the area and around Rome and events in the war, 14 - 27 February 1944
(1 plan, 102cm x 75cm, printed, colour)


Map Review No. 35, produced by the Army Bureau of Current Affairs, showing cartoons comparing the Napoleonic and Second World Wars, also summarising events in the war, 27 February - 12 March 1944
(1 plan, 100cm x 76cm, printed, colour)

South East Asia Command (Ref: D/X 2064/18-19)

'SEAC Souvenir', newspaper published for soldiers of South East Asia Command containing news of the war in South East Asia, n.d. [c.1944]
(4 papers, printed)


'Burma: a miracle in military achievement', booklet published by Supreme Allied Command, South East Asia, describing the Burma Campaign, n.d. [1944] Relates to Burma (now Myanmar)
(1 booklet, printed)

Home Front (Ref: D/X 2064/20-22)

'Photography as Usual', card outlining rules for photography in wartime and list of prohibited subjects, n.d. [c.1939]
(1 paper, printed)


Booklet containing jokes, and cartoons, some war related, n.d. [1939-1945]
(1 booklet, printed)


Cartoon sketch showing grave of 'H Guard' with light hearted epitaph and wreath bearing 'red tape', n.d. [1940s]
(1 paper)

Weekly Telegraph (Ref: D/X 2064/23/1-2)

'The Weekly Telegraph', national magazine containing news, features and adverts, 2 October 1943
(1 booklet, printed)


'The Weekly Telegraph', national magazine containing news, features and adverts, 9 October 1943
(1 booklet, printed)

First World War (Ref: D/X 2064/24-25)

Colour photocopy of 49th (West Riding) Division Christmas card from Arthur to Eva [possibly Eva Riley Lord] and 'Tub', December 1916
(1 paper)


Colour photocopy of several postcards, some humorous, some giving brief histories of named regiments, some in German, n.d. [1910s]
(3 papers)

General Humour (Ref: D/X 2064/26-29)

'The Naughty Nineties', booklet containing 'some of the jokes, sayings and rhymes current in those days', n.d. [1920s]
(1 booklet, printed)


'Have you heard this? Bits of Humour from all Parts of the World', booklet containing jokes, and cartoons, 1944
(1 booklet, printed)


'Rare Fun!' booklet containing jokes, and cartoons, n.d. [1940s] 'R. Close' written inside front cover
(1 booklet, printed)


'Laughter Parade', booklet containing jokes, and cartoons, with some handwritten annotations, n.d. [1960s]
(1 booklet, printed)