Major Charles George Gibson “Pat” Riley, DCM 1SAS
Original "Tobruk Four"
Charles George Gibson “Pat” Riley (24 November 1915 – 9 February 1999) was one of the original members of the Special Air Service (SAS) during the Second World War, a soldier whose courage, leadership, and unconventional tactics helped define modern special forces operations. Awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal (DCM) for gallantry, Riley’s life combined extraordinary bravery with enduring service to both Britain and the SAS legacy.
Riley rejoined the army at the outbreak of the Second World War in 1939 and initially served in No. 8 Commando as part of Layforce, operating in the Western Desert. In 1941, he volunteered for the newly formed ‘L’ Detachment, Special Air Service, becoming one of the founding members of what would become the legendary SAS.
He was part of the celebrated group often called the “Tobruk Four,” along with Bob Lilley, Jim Almonds, and Jim Blakeney, pioneering deep desert raids behind Axis lines. These early operations required courage, creativity, and a complete disregard for personal safety—qualities Riley had in abundance.
Key Operations
Bouerat Raid (January 1942)
One of Riley’s most notable missions was the raid on Bouerat Harbour in Libya. The operation involved infiltrating heavily defended enemy positions to destroy fuel depots and petrol tankers vital to the Axis forces. Riley demonstrated exceptional leadership, coordinating demolition teams under heavy risk, and personally navigating enemy defenses. For his actions, he was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal (DCM).
Other North Africa Missions:
• Participated in raids on Slonta and Nofilia, continuing to disrupt enemy supply lines.
• Engaged in SAS operations in Benghazi, targeting enemy infrastructure and transport under intense opposition.
After North Africa, Riley and the SAS were deployed to Sicily and mainland Italy.
• In Sicily, he contributed to sabotage operations against coastal defenses.
• In Italy, he participated in amphibious landings and fought to secure strategic ports, often operating deep behind enemy lines, demonstrating the mobility and audacity that became hallmarks of SAS operations.
Pat Riley is remembered as one of the true originals of the SAS, a soldier whose courage, determination, and leadership left a lasting mark on special operations warfare. Renowned for his toughness, including a noted victory in boxing over fellow SAS legend Paddy Mayne, Riley embodied the qualities that have come to define the SAS: audacity, ingenuity, and unwavering commitment to mission success.
His contributions, particularly in the North African desert raids, Sicily, and Italy, helped establish the SAS as an elite fighting force capable of operating independently, with speed, precision, and maximum impact behind enemy lines.