OUR PEOPLE
We Are Family
Across the Corps, service doesn’t just shape individuals — it weaves itself through families, passing from one generation to the next like a shared thread of pride, purpose and identity. This new section celebrates those families whose connection to RAEME spans decades, highlighting the sons, daughters, parents, grandparents and siblings who have all worn the Bluebell and carried our values forward. Their stories remind us that RAEME is more than a brotherhood or sisterhood; it is a family in every sense of the word, built on loyalty, craftsmanship, service and the deep bonds formed in workshops, units and deployments. Each month, we will honour these families whose continued service reflects the strength of our Corps and the legacy that lives on through them.
If service to our Corps spans different generations in your family, or even multiple members in the same generation, please share details with us via our online submission portal at: https://raeme.org.au/publications/newsletter/article-submission
The Riley Family – A Century of Service
We start this new segment by introducing the Rileys, a family that served our Nation across four generations, including from a period before our Corps was formed. What follows is an adaptation of an article written by Greg Riley.
Military service has shaped the Riley family for more than a century. It is a story that began not with the Corps of RAEME, but on the battlefields of the First World War, where Joseph Riley answered the call to serve Australia in 1915. On 06 Oct 1917, Joseph died of wounds suffered in battle as a member of the 26th Australian Infantry Battalion. He now rests at Lijssenthoek Military Cemetery in Belgium.
In April 2012, the Riley family travelled to Belgium to stand beside Joseph’s grave and pay their respects. Walking the battlefields of the Western Front and attending the Dawn Service at Villers-Bretonneux brought history into sharp focus. It was impossible not to reflect on the courage and endurance of those who had served before us. Looking back now, that journey represented far more than a pilgrimage. It quietly linked four generations together and reminded us that service is not simply inherited; it is inspired. Joseph’s sacrifice became part of the foundation upon which future generations of service in the Riley family would be built.
Private Joseph Riley
In remembrance of Joseph and as a tribute to his sacrifice, Joseph’s name will be projected on the exterior of the Australian War Memorial’s Hall of Memory at 0417h on Friday 15 January 2027.
The Riley family connection with RAEME began with Kevin Victor Riley. After initially serving in the Royal Australian Air Force, he transferred to the Australian Army and the Corps of RAEME in 1958. Over the next eighteen years he built a career that embodied the Corps’ reputation for technical excellence, serving in Bandiana, Borneo and Vietnam before retiring as a Warrant Officer Class One, Artificer Electrical. Those who knew him remember not only his professional skill but also the lifelong friendships forged through shared service—relationships that reflected the enduring spirit of the Corps.
WO1 Kevin Riley
Inspired by that example, Kevin’s son, Greg Riley, enlisted in August 1966 under the Adult Tradesman Scheme. His career would eventually mirror many aspects of his father’s, including operational service in Vietnam. In July 1969, Greg deployed with B Squadron, 3rd Cavalry Regt Light Aid Detachment (LAD) to Nui Dat. His father was serving nearby with 106th Field Workshop. The opportunity to meet during an active deployment remains one of the most remarkable memories of their combined military service. Adding to that unique experience was Greg’s uncle, Donald Riley, who was serving with the Royal Australian Air Force in nearby Vung Tau. Three members of one family serving simultaneously in Vietnam is a privilege few families may have experienced.
Greg’s career continued through a variety of technical, instructional and staff appointments, including the Army Apprentice School in Port Moresby, Headquarters 1st Military District, Sydney Workshop Company and the Maintenance Engineering Agency in Melbourne. Looking back as an Artificer Armament after twenty-seven years of service, the greatest constant was never the postings themselves, but the people. Throughout every appointment, RAEME’s culture of professionalism, technical mastery and mateship remained its defining strength.
The third generation carried the family tradition forward through Greg’s son, Michael Riley. Beginning his military career as a Reservist with the Royal Australian Engineers before transferring to the Regular Army, he found his professional home within RAEME during operational service in East Timor in 1999.
Michael’s decision to Corps transfer opened the door to a distinguished career in Army Aviation units, including deployment in 2019 as part of a United States Air Force advisory team supporting the Afghanistan Air Force Rotary Wing Command. Today, he continues to serve with distinction as an Artificer Aircraft Technician, demonstrating the same professionalism and commitment that has characterised each generation before him.
In June 2026, the Riley family’s story entered its fourth generation when Greg’s grandson, Toby Riley, marched out of Kapooka and commenced training as a Material Technician (Metalsmith). Watching him begin his journey within RAEME has been deeply rewarding. While each generation has served in different conflicts, different technologies and different eras, the values that underpin service have remained remarkably consistent.
Four generations of military service represent far more than an interesting statistic. It represents over a century of commitment, sacrifice and professional service to Australia. From the trenches of the Western Front to the workshops of Vietnam, from Army Aviation to the modern technical trades, the Riley family’s story reflects the evolution of both the Australian Army and the Corps of RAEME itself.
Individuals have worn the Corps badge across four generations, but its significance extends beyond any one soldier. It represents a legacy of artisanship, resilience, quiet professionalism and service before self. While equipment, technology and battlefields will continue to change, those values endure. That continuity is the true strength of RAEME, and it is a privilege for our family to have contributed to that story for more than one hundred years.
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