Hello Graham,
I'm finding the research & GMIC absolutely fascinating & the military side is very new to me.
I am sure the photo of the male wearing the tin hat is Grandpa. It was found together with the other photos of him in the family box of old photos.
A couple of days ago I submitted an application to the National Archives & paid a fee for a 'page search'. I don't know which documents are held within the archives. When I receive a response, I will perhaps receive more information to further the search. Is this where the service records would be archived?
Today I have emailed Leeds Grammar School Alumni. I am hoping that they will have some information on his Officer Cadet Training. I'm not sure they will hold the battalion details which he transferred to in August 1918.
I don't know what the school leaving age would have been at the time in the early 1900's. It was extended from 12yrs to 14yrs in 1918. LGS was a fee paying school so I don't know pupils would have left school later.
In 1957, Grandpa & my father drove around Europe visiting The Netherlands, Germany, Austria, Italy, Switzerland & France.He wrote a diary. On 16th August he writes "Depart Leon on a route different from the AA. New route Vervins, Avesnes,Landrecies, Le Cateau, Cambrai ending in Arras. He states " A revisit by EW under conditions different from 1918" Avensis, Landrecies we visit cemetery having followed the 1914-1918 front line. Artois cemetery (Haucourt)
In Arras Grandpa states that he called the IWGC office to get details of Geoffrey Laughton. At St Martin Calvaire cemetery they find Geoffrey Laughton of 26th Tyneside Irish NF killed on 5/12/17 age 19yrs. Son of Charles & Beatrice Laughton of Leeds.
Although Geoffrey was a year older than Grandpa, I would think that they would have been known to one another as they were at LGS together.
Would Grandpa appear on any casualty lists anywhere? Is is possible to obtain records from the OTC? I read today that the Leeds OTC records are not very comprehensive.
It can't be that difficult to find Grandpa can it?!!!
With kind regards
Di