Name
George Tomlin (8694)
14 February 1882
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
06/02/1915
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
8694
South Wales Borderers
1st Bn.
"D" Coy.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 (Mons) Star, British War and Victory Medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
LE TOURET MEMORIAL
Panel 14 and 15.
France
Headstone Inscription
NA
UK & Other Memorials
British Schools Museum Memorial, Hitchin, Hitchin Town Memorial(*1), St Mary's Church Roll of Honour (Book), Hitchin(*1)
Pre War
George was born on 14 February 1882 in Hitchin in the third quarter and he was baptised on 2 Aug 1882 in Hitchin, Herts. His parents were William and Maria Tomlin (née Tansley) and they married in St. Mary’s Church, Hitchin on 25 Dec 1872.
In 1881, before George’s birth, the census reveals his family were living at Hitchin Hill, Hitchin. Present were both parents: William (30) working as a bricklayer and Maria (30) who was working as a straw plaiter. Their children were: Harriett (7) and John William (2). Maria’s brother, William Tansley (20), was also present. We know that George was born later in 1881, and, we think, other children including Harry (christened 1885) and Annie (christened 1887).
George attended the Hitchin Boys’ British School.
It seemed that Maria died in Hitchin in 1889 and this was confirmed in a newspaper article in the Herts and Cambs Reporter dated 15 November 1889. It reported James, John and William Tomlin – all bricklayers of Hitchin, were charged with using obscene language in a public place in Hitchin in the 4th. John did not appear, William pleaded guilty, and James said that he could not remember anything. A witness said that the three brothers were fighting, swearing and blaspheming and that their father was with them. The defendants said that “it was only a family affair.” They were all fined 10s or to serve 7 days. William said that he had buried his wife the day before and had great trouble and asked for time to pay, but they were told to find the money. Based on this the following is believed to be correct:
By 1891 the family seem to have been split up. Widowed William has not yet been found. His sons, John William and Harry were living with their grandparents, William’s parents, George and Mary Ann Tomlin, at 47 Hitchin Hill (according to the census). George (9) remained in Hitchin and was living with William’s brother Harry and his wife Eliza and their family at 46 Hitchin Hill, Hitchin. The other children have yet to be fund/researched.
We have yet to find George in 1901, but his brother Harry appears to be now living with William’s brother, Harry, as George had been in the previous census. George’s widowed father William was working as a bricklayer and boarding at a Cottage in Hexton with the Bunker family. It is possible that George had already enlisted because in 1911 he was found in the home of his younger brother Harry and his wife Florence, George was 28 and recorded as a soldier in the South Wales Borderers
The Soldiers Died In The Great War (SDITGW) database records that he was born in Hitchin and enlisted in Stratford, London.
Wartime Service
We have established that pre-war George was a regular soldier in the South Wales Borderers and when war was declared he was either still serving or called immediately from the Army Reserve, He landed at Le Havre in France with them on 13 August 1914.
With George we have confusion over dates; his date of death was officially recorded as 6 February 1915 and we know his body was lost, because he appears on Le Touret Memorial. This would normally mean that he was posted as missing on the 6th and his death eventually presumed to be “On or since” that date. However, in the case we find numerous records of enquiries made to the
British Red Cross & Order Of St John Enquiry List, for information which all give the ‘Date reported missing or wounded’ date as 21 October 1914 – in many other cases the date recorded does reflect the date a man was officially missing and then declared but seemingly not so for George. These enquiries were normally made by family members, in George’s case we know that enquiries were made on 10th, 17th and 24th July 1915, and on 2nd, 9th, and 30th August 1915, 9 Aug 1915, 30 Aug 1915 – more than any I have seen in other cases. These dates also suggest that the family were informed that he was missing in 1915 not 1914.
In trying to understand the above the 1st Battalion South Wales Borderers war diaries have been viewed. For 21 October 1914 The war diary is typed and unusually descriptive suggesting it was written up later. The entry reeds: “An early start 4:00 am marched on towards BOESINGHE, and it is obvious by the noise that we are in for something very soon. Pass through PLIKERN. Order of march D. A. B. C. [Companies]. Arrived at LANGEMARCK at about 8:00 am and halt. C.O. and I sent for(sic) Brigadier and received orders. Queen’s are to advance and attack POELCAPPELLE soon, whilst S.W.B (South Wales Borderes) attack the same place itself. In order to do this we have to go very much to the right to connect with the Second Divisions left, which is on the HAANENECK stream, and this makes our front very large. Start off with D and A in firing line. D on left, A on right. B in support of D, and C in support of A. Come into contact with enemy at once as soon as we leave the village. They are in fair strength. We shove them back a bit, but not much. The breadth we have to cover is too much for one Battalion. News comes from D and A of their casualties, and we hear Curgenvan is killed and also young Watkins, who only came out a few days ago. Poor fellows. B company pushes up in support of D, and we hold our own, The Germans come on in great masses, silly idiots. We are shelled from every side and the big coal-boxes are almost more than flesh and blood can bear, though the damage they do is next to nothing unless one lucky shot happens to get in the middle of a mass of men. Towards the evening things get a bit quieter and we dig ourselves in. The rolls are called and we find we have two officers killed, one wounded and missing, and 146 killed and wounded. Not quite as bad as the 26th of September, but bad enough. And we can't get at most of them. At last battalion headquarters withdraw into the outskirts of the village where we occupy a House of sorts.”
George would have been involved in this action, but as it happened in Belgium and he is commemorated in France it seems unlikely that he was posted missing then.
However, on 6 February 1915 they were in the area of Lapugnoy, and the war diary reveals no action that would result in men reported as missing, in fact no action at all, i.e. “C. O. C. (General Officer Commanding) 3rd Bde. inspected the battn. in clean fatigue dress and said a few words on the good work down(sic) by the Battn. since 21st Dec. Remainder of day spent in cleaning up. Singsong in evening in theatre at 7:30 p.m.”
Assuming other men in George’s Battalion would have been killed on the same day and would also be buried or memorialized at Le Touret we find none at all until December 1914 when 45 died – the vast majority on the 21st, 31 in January 1915 – the vast majority on the 25th and none, other than George, in February. We cannot be sure, but it seems most likely that George actually went missing in late January 1915 when they saw considerable action around Givenchy, but we do not know.
Additional Information
After his death £16 17s 8d pay owing was authorised to go to his father, William, 2 March 1916. Later, a war gratuity of £5 was authorised to be paid to him on 17 November 1920.
His pension cards record William Tomlin as his father and as his dependant, living at Bricklayer’s Arms, Hitchin, although this was later changed to Woolmer Green, Knebworth, Hitchin.
William’s father (72) was found in 1921 lodging at the Bricklayers Arms, 29 Queen St, Hitchin and working as a bricklayer for J Raban Builders in Baldock.
*1 There are two George Tomlins associated with Hitchin, this man – Private 8694 and Private 29241. The name appears once on Hitchin Town Memorial, once in the St Mary's Church Roll of Honour (2014 Book), Hitchin and once on the British Schools Museum Memorial, Hitchin. We believe it is this man (8694) who appears on the latter. He also seems to have a longer association with Hitchin, however George (29241) has a brother, Charles, who appears on the Town memorial, so it seems much more likely that he is also on the Town memorial. We do not know which man is referred to on the ROH book, but it seems most likely to be intended to be the same man as on the Town memorial. If this is correct, then this man George (8964) is only named on the British School’s memorial.
Acknowledgments
Jean M Handley, Jonty Wild
