Trafford

Born during the December quarter 1907 in the Congleton R.D. - ref: 8a/267,
the son of James & Gertrude Lomas (nee Millward).

1911 Census - Chapel Houses, Holmes Chapel, Cheshire.   Son - aged: 3 -
born: Holmes Chapel.   Head of household - James Lomas - Married - aged: 29
- occ: Waggoner - born: Holmes Chapel.    Gertrude Lomas - Wife - aged: 32
- born: Stoke on Trent, Staffordshire.   Plus 1 elder sister and 2 younger
brothers - all born at Holmes Chapel.

President II was a shore based establishment of the Royal Naval Reserve
situated on the northern bank of the River Thames near to Tower Bridge.

Serving with Atlas Steamship DEMS [Defensively Equiped Merchant Ships].  
This branch of the Royal Navy was developed out of necessity in assisting
in the protection of merchant ships at sea during WWII.   Each merchant
ship had a contingent of these men on board to man the armourments ie.
depth charges, 4” deck Gun and AA batteries (inc Oerliken and Bofors
Anti-Aircraft guns).

It was an Admiralty Trade Division program established in June 1939, to arm
5,500 British merchant ships with an adequate defence against enemy
submarines and aircraft.  The acronym DEMS was used to describe the ships
carrying the guns, the guns aboard the ships, the military personnel
manning the guns, and the shore establishment supporting the system.

I know of only two ships lost on the 10th October 1942 - the "Duches of
Athol" and the "Orcades".    Perhaps there were others?