General enquiry.

[ALAMO2008]

Do you know where he was on 1921 Census ?

Hi, he's single and at home in Hough Green ,Widnes. He married the following year.

Yes I only just found out after asking that he married Mary Ellen Pilkington in September Quarter 1922 but couldnt find his 1921 Census

[ALAMO2008]

He was Born 26 July 1898 as One of Eight to Robert Lyons and Sarah Jane Wareing
He was probably Conscripted 1916 but more like to get in a Local Regt he enlisted in 1915 by lying about his age.
He probably went to India in early 1919 and if he came home late 1920 or early 1921 then his Army Records wouldnt have been sent to Arnside Street Repository Storeroom in 1920 with other Ex Soldiers
More likely similar to my Granddad who were still in the Army after 1920 and so their Records went after 1920 to the Army New Storeroom that was never Blitzed and they were held by the MOD now National Archives awaiting descendants to apply for them now. 

[Andy J2022]

I assume you have the details about his older brother George's service. If not, he joined the 12th (service) Battalion Kings (Liverpool) Regt in early 1915 and was given the number K/20409, with the K signifying he was part of the new Kitchener Army. He went to France via Boulogne on 24 Jul 1915 and was awarded the 1915 Star. At some later point he was transferred to the 2nd Battalion South Lancashire Regiment and got the new number 40789. From their respective numbers it's clear he transferred before his brother John joined, and so it is possible he 'claimed' his brother, which was why John was in the same regiment although not the same battalion.

[Red Tom]

He was Born 26 July 1898 as One of Eight to Robert Lyons and Sarah Jane Wareing
He was probably Conscripted 1916 but more like to get in a Local Regt he enlisted in 1915 by lying about his age.
He probably went to India in early 1919 and if he came home late 1920 or early 1921 then his Army Records wouldnt have been sent to Arnside Street Repository Storeroom in 1920 with other Ex Soldiers
More likely similar to my Granddad who were still in the Army after 1920 and so their Records went after 1920 to the Army New Storeroom that was never Blitzed and they were held by the MOD now National Archives awaiting descendants to apply for them now.

ALAMO2008, I'm grateful for your help. So you think it's worthwhile trying NA for anything they may have?

[Red Tom]

I assume you have the details about his older brother George's service. If not, he joined the 12th (service) Battalion Kings (Liverpool) Regt in early 1915 and was given the number K/20409, with the K signifying he was part of the new Kitchener Army. He went to France via Boulogne on 24 Jul 1915 and was awarded the 1915 Star. At some later point he was transferred to the 2nd Battalion South Lancashire Regiment and got the new number 40789. From their respective numbers it's clear he transferred before his brother John joined, and so it is possible he 'claimed' his brother, which was why John was in the same regiment although not the same battalion.

Andy J2022, Thank you for this extra research. Off the top of your head, do you know if there are relevant war diaries I could check out?

[ALAMO2008]

He was Born 26 July 1898 as One of Eight to Robert Lyons and Sarah Jane Wareing
He was probably Conscripted 1916 but more like to get in a Local Regt he enlisted in 1915 by lying about his age.
He probably went to India in early 1919 and if he came home late 1920 or early 1921 then his Army Records wouldnt have been sent to Arnside Street Repository Storeroom in 1920 with other Ex Soldiers
More likely similar to my Granddad who were still in the Army after 1920 and so their Records went after 1920 to the Army New Storeroom that was never Blitzed and they were held by the MOD now National Archives awaiting descendants to apply for them now.

ALAMO2008, I'm grateful for your help. So you think it's worthwhile trying NA for anything they may have?

Yes - its highly unlikely his Records went to the Old Storeroom in early 1920

[Red Tom]

ALAMO2008 - Thank you for your help today.

[Andy J2022]

Andy J2022, Thank you for this extra research. Off the top of your head, do you know if there are relevant war diaries I could check out?

Not sure if you are asking about George or John. For George you could start with the war diaries of the 12th Battalion Kings (Liverpool) Regiment. Then after he transferred to the 2nd Battalion South Lancs, you need to check their war diaries. They have both been digitised and you can find them on Ancestry. If you don't have an Ancestry subscription you can download them as pdfs from the National Archives for free, once you have registered for an account: https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C7353118  and https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C7352064

For John, the position is not so clear. As the units in India during the First World War were not actively on operations there are no war diaries for the period prior to 1919 and after that date only the diary for 15 Infantry Brigade (of which the battalion formed part) appears to exist. These have not been digitised, so you would need to go in person to TNA to see them: https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C4558562

[Red Tom]

Andy J2022 - My apologies, yes, I was referring to John. It makes sense that there would be no war diaries for the India service. I won't be in a position to get to TNA anytime soon, and as you say, there isn't much chance of any revelations I think. I'm very grateful for your help with this, so thank you once again.