Lost Soldier

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Lost Soldier

Postby Robin » Sun Nov 10, 2013 12:00 pm

This rememberance Sunday has prompted me to remember my family member who died in WW1 and to ask if anyonethinks I would stand a chance of answering some of the unanswered questions I have surrounding his time in the Royal Engineers and his death on 1st July 1916.

Oswald Leslie Tomlin was aged 18 when he died and was from Hitchin in Hertfordshire. He was my great grandfather's younger brother and I am lucky to have family photographs depicting him before and during the war. He was Sapper 75366, A.N.Cable Sect, Royal Engineers and was "Killed in Action", Buried at Branhoek Cemetery, Belgium.

I would appreciate any advice or help as to whether I am likely to be able to find out where he was actually killed and where his unit had been deployed at the time. I recognise that 1st July was the first day of the Somme but I am not sure if this is simply a coincidence? I don't believe his military record have survived but I am not sure if there are diaries from his regiment/section that may have?

Any help much appreciated.
Kind Regards
Robin
Robin
 
Posts: 2
Joined: Sat Nov 09, 2013 5:21 pm

Re: Lost Soldier

Postby apowell » Fri Nov 15, 2013 9:41 am

Hello, Robin,

I can give you some geneal information that may help.

Information gained from Oswald's Medal Index Card or MIC for short:

He was posted to France on the 4/12/15

His medal entitlement:
1915 Star
British & Victory

Sadly Oswald's service papers didn't survive so alot of information has been lost.

We do know he was sadly killed in Action 1st July 1916 (first day of the Battle of the Somme) serving with the A.N. Cable Sect. of the R.E.

The cable sections job was to lay signal cables and to operate for commnication purposes and I assume his section was operating in the thick of the fighting on the 1st of July 1916. Oswald may not have served with the cable section from 1915 but was serving with them on the Somme.

The link below has a photo of Oswalds grave:
http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cg ... =11181266&

This link maybe interesting giving some information regarding the cable sections during the War:
http://www.reubique.com/75809.htm

Check this link taken from the useful website forum:
http://1914-1918.invisionzone.com/

Post a request about the whereabouts of the A.N. Cable Sect. of the R.E. on the 1st July 1916. I'm sure someone who has a special interest in the Royal Engineers could help.

Regards
Adrian
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Location: Vantaa Finland

Re: Lost Soldier

Postby Robin » Mon Dec 02, 2013 11:10 am

your assistance Adrian is very much appreciated.

Regards
Robin
Robin
 
Posts: 2
Joined: Sat Nov 09, 2013 5:21 pm


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