Senior solider with Huddersfield links takes up duties at the Royal Armouries

May 6 2009 Huddersfield Daily Examiner

A HIGH ranking soldier with family roots in Huddersfield has been appointed to a top post with the Royal Armouries.

Lt Gen Jonathon Riley, whose ancestors hail from the tiny area of Riley, Kirkburton, takes up his new post with the Armouries in June when he leaves the army following a distinguished career, which included commanding the British forces in Iraq.

Lt-Gen Riley commanded The Royal Welch Fusiliers in Gorazde, Bosnia, in 1995 during the Bosnian War when he was awarded the Distinguished Service Order for bravery and distinguished conduct.

In 2003, he was appointed general officer commanding British forces in Iraq and subsequently served as deputy commander of the NATO forces in Afghanistan.

Lt-Gen Riley is one of only a few British officers to command a tri-service joint task force on operation, which he did in Sierra Leone in 2000-2001.

He was made an Officer of the Legion of Merit of the USA in 2004 and a Companion of the Most Honourable Order of the Bath in 2008.

Lt-Gen Riley is a visiting fellow in modern history at Birmingham University and a member of the Council of the Royal United Services Institute.