Royal Irish Rifles (1Btn)

[buckfuzby]

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

[jds1949]

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

[buckfuzby]

Thanks jds1949

Was surprised that I cannot see him on any memorial in Cavan?

Will use the other links you left me

Thanks again

[mmm45]

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

[buckfuzby]

Thanks Ady

What does it mean when you say regular soldier pre war when he enlisted Aug 1914?

[mmm45]

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

[corisande]

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

[buckfuzby]

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

[mmm45]

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