Taken from a local newspaper 21st September 1917.

The Military Medal for conspicuous bravery has just been awarded to Sergt Lomas, of Derby.

Sergt Lomas joined The Sherwood Foresters (Territorials) in December, 1911, and has served two years in France, where he went in February 1915. [Alfred was in the 5th Battalion]. He got safely through all the fighting, including the Somme. In August of the same year he came home on special leave, was taken ill, and was in Temple House Hospital for a month. Whilst awaiting a draft for his unit a Medical Board marked him unfit, and he was transferred to the Labour Company, going out to France in March, 1917. [He was sent to the 51st Labour Company].

He was made Sergeant on July 21 of this year on account of his conduct and devotion to duty and less than a month afterwards he was recommended for conspicuous bravery, and has been awarded the Military Medal. It was at 7.40am on August 20 that Sergeant Lomas was in charge of a working party of 50 men, when the enemy shelled the road and the forward area in which they were working. He led his men with coolness into safety, not one being wounded. He saw his party safely through the barrage, when, hearing sounds of wounded who belonged to the R.E.s he returned through the barrage, saved one of the wounded, and again returned under heavy shell fire and got another wounded man to the dressing station.

Sergt. Lomas was formerly employed at The Midland Loco Works, and previous to the outbreak of war resided with his parents.

"30018 Sgt A D Lomas - is commended for conspicuous gallantry in that he, whilst in charge of a party of men working on the road between HELLFIRE CORNER and ZILLEBEKE during heavy shelling, secured the safety of his party and assisted the wounded of a party of REs, who were struck by a shell, to the Aid Post at ZILLEBEKE. After this he collected a stretcher-bearer party and returned whilst the shelling was continuing to bring into the Aid Post another RE man who was wounded, which he did" 20 Aug 17 - Awarded MM

Citation from XIX Corps Diary enclosure 1 Sep 17

With thanks to Stuart Brown for the story of Sgt Lomas and to Labour Corps expert Ivor Lee for the MM citation.

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