JOHN Thomas Lomax had been a soldier for more than six years when the First World War started in 1914.

It was April the following year before the Oxenhope labourer was sent abroad to fight with the 6th battalion of the West Riding Regiment.

And it was only six months after that when Corporal Lomax died during a German bombardment on the front-line trenches.

John was born in 1888 in Altofts, near Wakefield, and grew up in Oxenhope, one of 14 children of coal miner Isaac Lomax and wife Elizabeth.

At the age of 12 he was working as a worsted spinner, and by 18 was serving with the 3rd Volunteer Battalion while working for engineering firm Hattersley’s.

In 1911 he was a spring maker grinder with a local spring maker, and three years later he signed up for overseas service with his regiment.

The West Riding Regiment war diary for October 19, 2015 reports frequent artillery attacks by both the German and British forces.

Following an enemy bombardment of around 60 heavy shells, John was hit at 5.15pm by a high-explosive shell and became one of three soldiers to die that day.

He was buried at Talana Farm Cemetery and is remembered on the Oxenhope War Memorial in the village’s St Mary’s Church.