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General => Armed Forces => World War One => Topic started by: buckfuzby on Saturday 09 January 10 15:26 GMT (UK)
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Samuel James Lucas enlisted August 1914 and killed in France November 1914, have not been able to locate any memorial that bears his name and am asking for help in this matter
What information is available reference his service and any documents connected to him. Buried Royal Irish Rifle graveyard in Laventine
Samuel James Lucas was from Co Cavan, Ireland
Thanking you in anticipation
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His medal index card is on this page:
http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/documentsonline/details-result.asp?Edoc_Id=3915413&queryType=1&resultcount=1
it will cost you £2 to download a copy from the NA site.
If his service records survived then they will be on Ancestry or free to view at the National Archives at Kew. There doesn't seem to be a listing for Samuel James Lucas on the Ancestry search engine, but he may be indexed under James, as he is in the Medal Roll.
It's also worth visiting this site for good advice on researching a soldier:
http://www.1914-1918.net/
jds1949
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Thanks jds1949
Was surprised that I cannot see him on any memorial in Cavan?
Will use the other links you left me
Thanks again
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Hes listed on Soldiers Died In Great War as James also have you tried Glasgow he may have had links there.
From Knockbride Co Cavan KIA 19/11/14
He was a regular soldier pre war.
http://www.snwm.org/website/frames.html
Hes listed on the Scottish National War Memorial
http://search.ancestry.co.uk/iexec/?htx=View&r=5538&dbid=1633&iid=NOISBN-IRISHVOL5-00150&fn=James&ln=Lucas&st=r&ssrc=&pid=32564
And on Irelands Great War Casualties on Ancestry.
Ady :)
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Thanks Ady
What does it mean when you say regular soldier pre war when he enlisted Aug 1914?
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I may have jumped the gun and should have put "early enlistment"
He entered theatre of war on 6/11/14 and was KIA 2 weeks later.
so wouldnt have had a lot of training
1st Battalion was a Regular Battalion as opposed to a Service Battalion who joined up for duaration of war ie Kitchener Volunteers.
1st Batt didnt get back from Aden until Oct 1914 then straight over the water into action
Soldiers died says Resident Glasgow...there is a Glasgow City Roll of Honour but its not online yet...if you google "Scottish War Memorial Project" you may get some answers from that site.
Ady :)
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Name: LUCAS
Initials: J
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Rifleman
Regiment/Service: Royal Irish Rifles
Unit Text: 1st Bn.
Age: 33
Date of Death: 19/11/1914
Service No: 8777
Additional information: Son of John William and Mary Jane Lucas, of Knocknalossett, Shercock, Co. Cavan.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: II. K. 8.
Cemetery: ROYAL IRISH RIFLES GRAVEYARD, LAVENTIE
I am not sure what you mean about no memorial. If you go to the cwgc web site
http://www.cwgc.org/search/cemetery_photos.aspx?cemetery=66011&mode=1
you will see a photo of the graveyard, and each man has a memorial there. The plan of the cemetery given shows where his plot is. In other words you can go to Laventie Cemetery and visit plot II.K.8
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Perhaps i wasn't clear in my request for info, cannot find James on any memorial in Ireland. Thought there would have been some local memorial with his name upon it given he was an early casualty
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Have you located him on the 1911 census? That may give an indication where he was living and where an entry in a war memorial COULD be but believe you me inclusion on war memorials doesnt follow any pattern or rules.
Good luck
Ady :)
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cannot find James on any memorial in Ireland.
Ireland is not known for its WW1 War Memorials!!
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He not on the 1911 census (Ireland) ? nor England ?
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With the Glasgow connection he may be on the Scots one and you cant access it til 2011 :(
Ady
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Where does the information that he enlisted Aug 1914 come from? As Ady says he was in the army before WW1. But he may have elected to spend the last part of his service in the Army Reserve. They received half pay in exchange for a two week annual camp. When WW1 started in August 1914 he may have been recalled with all the other reservists.
If his record has not survived you should research when 8777 was issued. If you have Ancestry you can search for men in the RIR with similar numbers. But they must be pre-1914 Regulars as well. Other battalions within the RIR would have used 8777 as well.
You could also try the British Medal Forum and see if they have any RIR experts who can tell you.
Ken
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As Ken suggested lads on Ancestry with similar service numbers were between 1907 and 1912 so i would think he was a Reservist recalled in Aug 1914.(8771,8778,8774 survived the blitz but they may have been 1,2 or 3rd batts)
Ady