Europa Posted 13 June , 2012 Share Posted 13 June , 2012 Hi Everyone - I wonder if anyone can help me with a bit of a mystery. Am helping out a chap who is interested in finding out about his Grandfather's military service. The only information he has is a photograph of his grandfather in uniform on a horse which he thinks was taken in Belgium around 1914. His grandfathers name was Henry Edwards Lomax - baptism records dated 3rd February 1896 show his date of birth as 10th August 1894 - however the civil registration of his birth shows September Q of 1893 which is also shown in the Lancashire Birth Indexes. He was born in Hindley ( a district of Wigan in Lancashire) His father's name was Oliver Lomax and his mother was Elizabeth Edwards. In the 1911 Census - Henry was shown under the surname Lomas - living in Platt Bridge (another district of Wigan - close to Hindley) - his occupation being a Coal Miner Drawer. Could anyone tell from the photo what regiment he might have been in - I have found a few medal indexes for Henry Lomax but without knowing his regiment it is causing a bit of a dilemma. I do have a bigger file of this photo but of course couldn't post it on here. Thanks for your help in advance. Regards Europa Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FROGSMILE Posted 13 June , 2012 Share Posted 13 June , 2012 Hi Everyone - I wonder if anyone can help me with a bit of a mystery. Am helping out a chap who is interested in finding out about his Grandfather's military service. The only information he has is a photograph of his grandfather in uniform on a horse which he thinks was taken in Belgium around 1914. His grandfathers name was Henry Edwards Lomax - baptism records dated 3rd February 1896 show his date of birth as 10th August 1894 - however the civil registration of his birth shows September Q of 1893 which is also shown in the Lancashire Birth Indexes. He was born in Hindley ( a district of Wigan in Lancashire) His father's name was Oliver Lomax and his mother was Elizabeth Edwards. In the 1911 Census - Henry was shown under the surname Lomas - living in Platt Bridge (another district of Wigan - close to Hindley) - his occupation being a Coal Miner Drawer. Could anyone tell from the photo what regiment he might have been in - I have found a few medal indexes for Henry Lomax but without knowing his regiment it is causing a bit of a dilemma. I do have a bigger file of this photo but of course couldn't post it on here. Thanks for your help in advance. Regards Europa He is in the Royal Field Artillery and probably a 'Driver', which was a specialist appointment for a Gunner. He has an RA cap badge, a 3 letter shoulder title - RFA and is wearing spurs. He also has the typical 1903 pattern bandolier worn by those on mounted duty for their .303 ammunition (50 rounds). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
squirrel Posted 14 June , 2012 Share Posted 14 June , 2012 Unusual for a Gunner to be riding a grey horse. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tipperary Posted 14 June , 2012 Share Posted 14 June , 2012 The horse's harness is for riding rather than drawing anything and nicely groomed. I wonder is our Gunner/Driver riding an officers mount.john Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tipperary Posted 14 June , 2012 Share Posted 14 June , 2012 Four men below may fit the bill.john View Record Henry Lomax Royal Field Artillery, Royal Field Artillery 1518, 735749 View Record Henry Lomax Royal Field Artillery 56178 View Record Henry Lomax Royal Field Artillery, Labour Corps 74546, 529244 View Record Henry Lomax Royal Field Artillery 170632 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FROGSMILE Posted 14 June , 2012 Share Posted 14 June , 2012 The horse's harness is for riding rather than drawing anything and nicely groomed. I wonder is our Gunner/Driver riding an officers mount.john Drivers were sometimes used to exercise officers' chargers. He might also be an officers servant (aka 'batman') riding his officer's mount. It could also be any one of a battery's horses used for unit transport. There are many contemporary anecdotes about such animals. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Verrico2009 Posted 14 June , 2012 Share Posted 14 June , 2012 There are a couple of pages for 170632 - address in Burnley, he was 34 years 7 months old on enlistment in September 1916. I think his profession is Seaman. (or Beamer?!). Wife Clara and one child Harry born in November 1913. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Verrico2009 Posted 14 June , 2012 Share Posted 14 June , 2012 Papers for 74546 show he was living in Ramsbottom, aged 24 years 4 months in 1915. NOK sister Hannah, also living in Ramsbottom. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FROGSMILE Posted 14 June , 2012 Share Posted 14 June , 2012 There are a couple of pages for 170632 - address in Burnley, he was 34 years 7 months old on enlistment in September 1916. I think his profession is Seaman. (or Beamer?!). Wife Clara and one child Harry born in November 1913. A 'Beamer' was a skilled man in the textile industry and winds the warp on the roller before putting it on the loom. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Verrico2009 Posted 14 June , 2012 Share Posted 14 June , 2012 Oh good - I was reading it correctly: I didn't find it particularly clear. I think his profession and age rule him out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FROGSMILE Posted 14 June , 2012 Share Posted 14 June , 2012 Oh good - I was reading it correctly: I didn't find it particularly clear. I think his profession and age rule him out. His town was at the centre of the cotton weaving industry. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Europa Posted 14 June , 2012 Author Share Posted 14 June , 2012 Oh gosh am even more confused now but thanks for all this different information. Am struggling to be honest to find anything for a Henry Lomax or Lomas - have found a few references on Ancestry Medal Index Cards - Henry Lomax - RFA - DVR - 170632 but there is no theatre of war shown. However the interesting bit is where it says RFA 275B which I think stands for 275 Brigade - further investigation tells me that the 1st West Lancashire Brigade (TF) became the 275 Brigade - am presuming TF stands for Territorials?? Maybe that makes sense as Wigan is in Lancashire so one would presume that he would join a Lancashire regiment. The second one is...... Harry Lomax - RFA - DVR - 12343 showing Theatre of War as France - am thinking maybe he was known as Harry. The others all show Gunner (including the ones mentioned in the reply earlier ) - would he have initially started off as a Gunner then made into a Driver? Also Henry Edwards Lomax was a coal miner prior to the war - according to his grandson he was gassed during the war and on leaving went to work in Risley I think - however I cannot find any record of a pension for him. He returned to his birthplace of Wigan where he died around 1961. Is there anywhere I can just type in the army number to see what comes up? Thank you so much for all the help you are giving me. Europa Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FROGSMILE Posted 14 June , 2012 Share Posted 14 June , 2012 Oh gosh am even more confused now but thanks for all this different information. Am struggling to be honest to find anything for a Henry Lomax or Lomas - have found a few references on Ancestry Medal Index Cards - Henry Lomax - RFA - DVR - 170632 but there is no theatre of war shown. However the interesting bit is where it says RFA 275B which I think stands for 275 Brigade - further investigation tells me that the 1st West Lancashire Brigade (TF) became the 275 Brigade - am presuming TF stands for Territorials?? Maybe that makes sense as Wigan is in Lancashire so one would presume that he would join a Lancashire regiment. The second one is...... Harry Lomax - RFA - DVR - 12343 showing Theatre of War as France - am thinking maybe he was known as Harry. The others all show Gunner (including the ones mentioned in the reply earlier ) - would he have initially started off as a Gunner then made into a Driver? Also Henry Edwards Lomax was a coal miner prior to the war - according to his grandson he was gassed during the war and on leaving went to work in Risley I think - however I cannot find any record of a pension for him. He returned to his birthplace of Wigan where he died around 1961. Is there anywhere I can just type in the army number to see what comes up? Thank you so much for all the help you are giving me. Europa Yes TF stands for 'Territorial Force' that after WW1 was retitled the 'Territorial Army'. He would have started as a Gunner and after appropriate specialist training become a 'Driver'. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daggers Posted 15 June , 2012 Share Posted 15 June , 2012 The '275B' is not a unit reference but refers to an entry in the Medal Roll for the RFA, held at Kew and not online. It might reveal the unit if you can get to visit or enlist help. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ororkep Posted 15 June , 2012 Share Posted 15 June , 2012 This man is RGA to me. Rgds Paul Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
battiscombe Posted 15 June , 2012 Share Posted 15 June , 2012 a few possibilities for a Henry Lomax RGA, none under Lomas I think. I would think definitely exercising an officers charger! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Europa Posted 15 June , 2012 Author Share Posted 15 June , 2012 Henry Lomax daughter is still alive - I am trying to see if her nephew can get any more information from her or even if she has anything apertaining to her father's military service. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RammyLad1 Posted 16 June , 2012 Share Posted 16 June , 2012 Europa, Just to muddy to waters a little bit more there are two references to a Gunner Henry Lomax, in the Ramsbottom Observer newspaper. The first is from January 1915 which lists his name as serving in the Royal Artillery, occupation labourer. The second is from January 1916, in which he wrote a letter to the newspaper thanking the people of Ramsbottom for the gift he received from the soldiers extra comfort fund. If this is your man, PM me and I will send the details, although the quality isn't that great. Duncan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
battiscombe Posted 16 June , 2012 Share Posted 16 June , 2012 but note the Rambottom man is RFA so not this individual who is RGA Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RammyLad1 Posted 16 June , 2012 Share Posted 16 June , 2012 but note the Rambottom man is RFA so not this individual who is RGA Good point, this rules this man out then. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Europa Posted 16 June , 2012 Author Share Posted 16 June , 2012 Thanks everyone - Henry Lomax was born in WIGAN - well a district of Wigan called Hindley - he was a miner before joining up. Good news is that I have been informed that his daughter is willing to talk to me so am hoping to phone her sometime soon - unfortunately am not sure when as my 91 yr old Mum has gone back into hospital after only being discharged last week so it will be a bit hectic for me. Europa Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kevinrowlinson Posted 16 June , 2012 Share Posted 16 June , 2012 If he served abroad, and he didn't have a middle name, you are lucky that there are only two main candidates. I think one of the two is more likely, but it would be interesting to see if any place names turn up. Also worth looking at the AVL for 1918 to see if he's mentioned. Kevin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Europa Posted 16 June , 2012 Author Share Posted 16 June , 2012 His full name was Henry Edwards Lomax - errrrrrrr what is AVL?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Owl Posted 16 June , 2012 Share Posted 16 June , 2012 Absent Voters List Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Europa Posted 16 June , 2012 Author Share Posted 16 June , 2012 Found this on another genealogy site.............. I contacted the History Shop in Wigan library concerning their absent voter's list for 1918. They have informed me that no such lists were done there and the normal electoral rolls were noted accordingly when anyone was away fighting. Their regimental numbers were not given. No electoral rolls were printed for 1914-1917. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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