Frederick Riley was chosen as senior chaplain for Australia’s first major warship, HMAS Australia, an indefatigable class battle cruiser. He was Rector of the Anglican Church at Deloraine in Tasmania when his appointment was announced and was sent to England while the vessel was still under construction.
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A chaplain’s duties included the performance of religious services, visiting the sick and the supervision of educational instruction to any member of the crew who was deficient in reading, writing. arithmetic or geography. During battle the chaplain was required to assist in the care of the wounded.
Riley was on active service during the first two years of the war and, on his retirement from the chaplaincy of HMAS Australia, he became a senior instructor at the Royal Naval College at Jervis Bay. He was appointed vicar of Walcha in July 1918 and served here until he was appointed to the Cathedral Parish of Armidale in June 1922.
Canon Riley and his wife were given one of the largest ‘send-offs’ seen in Walcha with speeches by many locals including Mayor Langley, Father O’Connor (Catholic), Reverend James Marshall (Presbyterian). He received many gifts including a portfolio of musical scores from the Walcha Returned Soldiers Branch, of which he was president.
