Genealogy Chat

Does anyone know what this position would have involved? Did they serve at the front or at home? Did they fly on bombing raids or diffuse ones that landed at home? I've tried googling but haven't found much of any help. I don't know a regiment of anything. The death cert just says Lt Bombardier, RA Thanks

Is RA the Royal Artillery? Could bombardier be a word used for all personel in that unit, rather than an actual job description?

A Bombardier is the Artillery equivilent of a Corporal. Jennifer

Thanks Janet & Jennifer. So a bombardier might not have had anything to do with bombs at all then??! Trying to get any info out my MIL about her father is almost impossible. He died when a bomb landed on their house and she never talks about him. Thanks for your help.

Is it possible that the certificate says L/ Bombardier rather than Lt Bombardier This would make him a Lance Corporal (equivalent) in the Royal Artillery. How unlucky is that for a man who works with bombs to have his house struck by one. You may find him listed on the CWGC website as war dead. Worth a try. You could post his full name on this list and see if it adds some information Pete

Yes Pete! It is L/ Bombardier. I looked carefully but assumed the registrar had just forgotten to cross the 't' as it was very upright, not slanted! His name was Leonard George Moore, d 20/2/1944 in Hammersmith. I thought only those who died overseas were in the Commonwealth War Graves site? I don't even know if he ever left London!

This is a very interesting query. The CWGC has T/1437298 L/Corporal Leonard George Moore died 20 Feb 1944, buried in Greenford Park Cemetery. Husband of Doris E Moore of Southall. Does anything tie in with your death certificate? Keith

Is this the right one? Husband of Doris? Interesting that he is actually listed on the CWGC site as Driver in the Royal Army Service Corps. Age 38. Without further clues it's not possible to identify which one the several 1905/6 births he is. Nevertheless, a very interesting question which, with luck, may have provided you with some additional information. Pete

Thank you Keith!! That is him!! Wow, I had no idea he would be on the CWGC as I thought that was only for those who'd died overseas! I have his birth and all other records, thanks Pete. I was typing up the story of how he died for my son's cub scout meeting and it piqued my interest as to what a bombadier might have done and whether he was home on leave when it happened or if he was on home duty anyway! Off to look at the site now, Thanks again.

Hi Julia, Just to reaffirm what has already been said, A L/Bombardier is indeed the RA's equivelant to a Lance Corporal... a bombardier being the same as a corporal. I know this as my hubby was a Bombardier in the RA before being made a sergeant. (then tranferred to another unit)

The main point of interest in this death is that he cannot have been a L/Cpl in the RASC and a L/Bdr in the RA. It is far more likely that the CWGC entry is correct as the regimental number quoted is a RASC one, the T in front denotes driver trade. It is possible therefore that whoever registered the death gave the wrong details. (He may have been attached as a driver to a Gunner unit) You can only sort this out by applying for his service record. As your MiL is his daughter it sshould be fairly easy to get the records, although it may take some months as Glasgow is very busy. The address you want is Army Personnel Centre, Historic Disclosures, Mailpoint 400, Kentigern House, 65 Brown Street, Glasgow, G2 8EX.

Thank you Em & Keith. I think I'll apply for his service record. :D