John Bottomley Posted 3 September , 2020 Share Posted 3 September , 2020 Hi guys i am trying to find more info re above I have enclosed a photo of his cigarette case with engraved message on his return from the First World War he was always known as Bill rather than William also does RFA mean Royal Field Artillery? thank you Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FROGSMILE Posted 3 September , 2020 Share Posted 3 September , 2020 Yes, he appears to have been a signaller with the Royal Field Artillery. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom Lang Posted 3 September , 2020 Share Posted 3 September , 2020 Hello John and Welcome to the Forum. Lesson number 1 - always if possible give his name, rank and number. It helps greatly, because he could have been moved around. Kindest Regards, Tom Lang. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dai Bach y Sowldiwr Posted 3 September , 2020 Share Posted 3 September , 2020 Also where he was from, as there might be a surviving Absent Voters List for that area, that probably would give a service number and regiment. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PRC Posted 3 September , 2020 Share Posted 3 September , 2020 19 minutes ago, Tom Lang said: Hello John and Welcome to the Forum. Lesson number 1 - always if possible give his name, rank and number. It helps greatly, because he could have been moved around. Kindest Regards, Tom Lang. Hi and welcome to the forum, If that's lesson 1 then lesson 0 would be tell us what you actually know about him, (When and where born, parents, did he serve overseas, do you have his medals, etc, etc - I'm assuming if you knew his service number you would have posted it), and when attaching an image to turn it round the right way With a crick in my neck I can see it is was presented by Messrs Buckley & Sons Ltd - presumably his employer. Unfortunately rather a lot of companies have been called that or a variation on it, so no help there establishing where he worked and therefore most likely lived. If he served overseas he would have qualified for service medals. The National Archive catalogue shows Medal Index cards for six William Lomas's whose overseas wartime service was either all or part with the Royal Field Artillery. There is no personal information held on these cards. And of course just because he returned from the Army doesn't mean he did serve overseas. So prime the pump with a bit more information and then stand back and let the forum get to work! Cheers, Peter Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Bottomley Posted 3 September , 2020 Author Share Posted 3 September , 2020 Hi all lesson learnt ! unfortunately I do not have anything ref his service record I know he was from Leeds West Yorkshire buckleys was a factory in Leeds I believe they made matches My grandmother said that he spent time in Africa ? I will try and obtain some more info in the meantime thank you Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alisonmallen62 Posted 3 September , 2020 Share Posted 3 September , 2020 I may be wrong but my ex in laws worked at a place called Buckleys in Greek Street Leeds which was a textile/clothes place. They went elsewhere when it shut down so that would be around 1959-1961 time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jay dubaya Posted 3 September , 2020 Share Posted 3 September , 2020 From Leeds AVL - 270924 Gunner William Lomas RFA - Back Craven Street, Leeds Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Bottomley Posted 3 September , 2020 Author Share Posted 3 September , 2020 Hi all thank you both the textile thing rings a bell as his wife Alice nee Atkinson was a seamstress in leeds with regard to him being from craven street I am unsure on his cigarette case it reads signaller ? Thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clk Posted 3 September , 2020 Share Posted 3 September , 2020 Hi John, Welcome to the forum. I think that jay may have found a good candidate. From the 1918 AVL... Images sourced from Findmypast Do the addresses ring a bell? Regards Chris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jay dubaya Posted 3 September , 2020 Share Posted 3 September , 2020 Gunner would be his rank, Signaller would be his trade Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dai Bach y Sowldiwr Posted 3 September , 2020 Share Posted 3 September , 2020 (edited) 1 hour ago, jay dubaya said: From Leeds AVL - 270924 Gunner William Lomas RFA - Back Craven Street, Leeds Back of the net, JW! Edited 3 September , 2020 by Dai Bach y Sowldiwr Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Bottomley Posted 3 September , 2020 Author Share Posted 3 September , 2020 Hi guys jay has sorted it ! My grandparents address was 33 Beechwood Mount Leeds ! Brilliant can’t thank you enough how do I find out any further info ? thank you Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mancpal Posted 3 September , 2020 Share Posted 3 September , 2020 Hopefully this is a quick question, How common was the use of "European War" as opposed to the 'Great War' ? I'm fairly sure I've read 'European War' being used with reference to American troops but haven't noticed it in terms of British troops. Simon Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jay dubaya Posted 4 September , 2020 Share Posted 4 September , 2020 (edited) A quick look for William on the census has thrown up a candidate but without further details I’ll leave that there at present. Sadly it would appear there are no surviving military records so it’s a blessing if the William Lomas on the Leeds AVL is indeed your grandfather. There are only a hand full of men within the 2709?? number sequence missing from the MICs and Medal Rolls, William being one of them. The number sequence was issued through No.1 RFA Depot, Newcastle when these Derby enlisted men and those coming of age (miners and machinists) were called up around May 1918, there also appears to be a West Yorkshire connection with the sequence. From the scant papers that survive in the sequence it would suggest they were posted to 4/B Reserve Brigade and possibly 24th Reserve Battery at Boyton, Wiltshire. For whatever reason and we will probably never know, William wasn’t called upon to serve overseas. The cigarette case may well suggest William went back to work with Messrs Buckley & Sons who clearly appreciated him, although there is nothing to suggest that he didn’t remain with the colours and went on to serve post war, if this was the case there’s a good chance the MoD still hold his records and should be available. Edited 4 September , 2020 by jay dubaya not telling Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Bottomley Posted 4 September , 2020 Author Share Posted 4 September , 2020 Hi jay thank you again for your help I will go to the MOD as you suggest And yes he is my Grandfather kind regards to all Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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