Military Chat

I'm keen to find my Grandfather's military records but have been told that these may have been destroyed in the blitz. I don't have much information...no regiment or number. I think he was in the Infantry or Rifle Corps & was at Ypres.
Henry Hanson Lilley dob...19/11/1896. On 1911 census he was age 14 & living at 34 Kingsbridge Road Oldham Lancashire. I've heard of an Absent Voters list but don't know how to access it. Any help would be appreciated.
Hazel

Are you sure he wasn't in the Air Force?

There is this record in British Royal Air Force, Airmen's service records 1912-1939:-

First name(s) Henry Hanson
Last name Lilley
Birth year 1897
Birth date ? ? 1897
Occupation Apprentice Iron Turner
Attestation year 1917
Attestation date 10 Apr 1917
Attestation age 20
Service number 93731
Archive reference AIR 79/849
Next of kin first name(s) -
Next of kin last name Lilley

Looking at the image his father was John Smith Lilley of Oldham Lancashire (I can't read the address - something like 3 Casks Craft Den Lane.

He got the British War Medal and the Victory Medal.

EDIT - on the image it says he is in the Army. Perhaps he transferred.

Kath. x

He joined the Royal Flying Corps (RFC) in 1917. The RFC was part of the Army. The RFC disappeared when the RAF was formed in 1918.

Kath & Denis...thank you so much. That must be the one as his father was John Smith Lilley of Oldham. I didn't know about RFC being part of the Army but that explains it. It means a lot to me to finally find his details so thanks again.
Hazel

I'm no good at forwarding images. I found this on Findmypast but I think Ancestry has free access to military records this weekend so you could possibly get the image from there.

Kath. x

Can't find him on Ancestry.

Thanks very much.
Hazel

His description from the image:-

Height 5ft 3ins.
Chest 29 and a half inches

He was in France from 27th Sept. 1917 to 24th April 1919

Transfered to RAF Reserve, Shrewsbury on 27th May 1919.

Kath. x

Will forward the 2 images Kath mentioned.

He is also on the Royal Air Force Muster Roll for 1918.

First name(s) H H
Last name Lilley
Service number 93731
Enlisted 1917/04/01
Category Military, armed forces & conflict
Subcategory First World War
Collections from Great Britain

Thank you so much for all your help.
Kucinta...how will you forward the images ?

Hazel

Hazel, I've sent you a private message (2 actually), when you open them, at the bottom of the message will be 'get attachments', of you click or double click on them, you should be able to open them on your computer .

Kucinta...sorry, I've just seen your other message with the attachments. Thank you. I'll try to read them but obviously the print is very faint. Much better than nothing though so many thanks
Hazel

If you enlarge them a bit it shouldn't be too bad.

Service D o W stands for 'duration of war (it's on the air force muster roll)

Ok thanks again. Signing off now.

Hazel