John Reginald Tommis was born in Wilmslow on July 14, 1892 the oldest son of Richard and Annie Tommis (ne Mills). By 1911 John was working as a salesman for a rubber boot company and living with his parents and his younger brother, George Harold Tommis, in Wilmslow within walking distance of the Wilmslow Preparatory School where his father was the headmaster.
At the outbreak of war, he joined the 7th Battalion, Manchester Regiment as an enlisted man and was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the 9th Battalion Manchester Regiment (Territorial Force) on July 21, 1915. On October 13, 1915 he embarked on His Majesty’s Transport Ship Scotian at Devonport for Gallipoli with 10 other Officers, arriving at Mudros on October 24th and joined the Battalion on Cape Helles on October 26, 1915.
He survived Gallipoli unscathed and sailed with the Battalion to Egypt, arriving on January 18, 1916. On July 23, 1916 he left for 35 days home leave in the UK where he married Annie Wilson. He rejoined the Battalion in Egypt in late August and on September 2nd he attended a course of instruction. He sailed with the Battalion to France, arriving March 11, 1917 and was almost immediately attached to the 42nd Division Signal Company, for instruction, where he remained for two months. He rejoined the Battalion on May 15 but two weeks later went sick to hospital where he remained for almost a month. Upon being discharged from hospital he was attached to the 210th Brigade of the Royal Field Artillery and shortly thereafter was promoted to Lieutenant on July 1, 1917. He remained with the RFA until February 17, 1918 when he transferred to the 6th Battalion Manchester Regiment and was struck off the strength of the Battalion.
He resigned his commission on February 22, 1921 retaining the rank of Lieutenant. He moved to Leeds and worked as a salesman. Lt. John Reginald Tommis died on June 10, 1965. He was 63 years old.