Where do I start?

[bean]

The transcription above is all I've seen however Johns son had Francis as his middle name and that sort of naming pattern has continued.
That said I agree it would be worth me finding the original and double checking.

Once more - Thank you to everyone who's contributed

[myluck!]

No problem - will keep John and the elusive Francis in mind!

[hallmark]

It's early hallmark - time to improve!!

bean - don't worry; ruling out is as important as in but can be time consuming!

Just a thought - have you seen the original of where his father's name is recorded?
It is not on the church records LINK but I have seen THOMAS mis-transcribed in the past as FRANCIS
Just in case you are working from a transcription - it may be something to consider

As a matter of interest is there any reason why they only have 5 shillings against their name while others have different amounts?

[myluck!]

It was a donation and perhaps it was all they could afford
They were living in one room of a tenement building in 1911

John TWOMEY went on to serve in the 2nd Lab. Royal Engs and stated he was 42 in Oct 1915 when he enlisted (=> b. c1873) unfortunately no reference to birth place or parents.

[hallmark]

It was a donation and perhaps it was all they could afford
They were living in one room of a tenement building in 1911

John TWOMEY went on to serve in the 2nd Lab. Royal Engs and stated he was 42 in Oct 1915 when he enlisted (=> b. c1873) unfortunately no reference to birth place or parents.

Thanks!

[bean]

now that's interesting - I'd been told he was at the Somme, wonder if that regiment was there

[myluck!]

His army records are on ancestry; I didn't read in detail but he was in France
records are scanned but damaged

[bean]

don't have access to that but from quick background reading it's possible that he was at the Somme with 2nd Labour Battalion

[myluck!]

FYI
Ancestry sometimes gives free access to records or a short period free before joining
It is also available free to use at some libraries 

The records state that John Twomey had service number: 111223, 290533
He was a Pioneer / Private in Royal Engineers, Labour Corps
Soldier Number: 111223, Rank: Pioneer, Corps: Royal Engineers
Soldier Number: 290533, Rank: Private, Corps: Labour Corps
Archive reference   WO372/20 - Campaign Medal Index Cards and Silver War Badge Cards
http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/SearchUI/Details?uri=D5659236

One record shows he served in the "Theatre of War - France" but no dates or location shown
Another that he was "batman to Capt. Longfield"
His DoB was written as 1871 on another document and crossed out to read 1873

The only other clue to his background I noted is that his age is given on 10.08.1915 as 42 years and the months shows a - "i.e. dash"; this could mean that he was born in August