Name
Roy Charles Tomkins
Conflict
Second World War
Date of Death / Age
20/07/1944
21
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Leading Seaman
P/JX296533
Royal Navy
H.M.M.T.B. 687.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
Mentioned in Despatches
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
HITCHIN CEMETERY
N.W. Extn. Grave 409.
United Kingdom
Headstone Inscription
IN LOVING MEMORY OF DEAR ROY KILLED IN ACTION. HE VOLUNTEERED AND DID HIS JOB WELL
UK & Other Memorials
Hitchin Town Memorial, St. Saviour's Church War Memorial, Hitchin, Tilehouse St. Baptist Church Memorial, Hitchin, British Legion Plaque, Payne's Park, Hitchin, Hitchin Roll of Honour 1939 – 1945 (Book) St Mary’s Church, Hitchin
Biography
He had attended Wilshere Dacre School and had been a member of the Tilehouse Street Scout Troop and later a member of the Hitchin Home Guard Before joining up he was employed as a carpenter with the Educational Supply Association of Stevenage and later with Mr A. Brown of Bancroft in Hitchin. He joined the Royal Navy in September 1941 with the Service Number P/JX296533 and specialised in work on Motor Torpedo Boats. He was sent abroad in the Spring of 1942 serving in North Africa and in the landings on Sicily and Italy.
In January 1944 he came back to the United Kingdom from Malta and was based in Lowestoft. He was killed in home waters serving on H.M. Motor Torpedo Boat ‘687’ after he had volunteered to take the place of a friend for a particular attack on a German convoy by two Norwegian and four British Motor Torpedo Boats.
On the 24th August 1943 he was Mentioned in Despatches for distinguished service. The citation read "For bravery in a daring attack on Tripoli Harbour whilst serving in Light Coastal Craft".
His funeral was in Walsworth Baptist Church and an escort came from H.M.S. ‘Nantes’. He is buried in Hitchin Cemetery, Grave 409 North West Extension and his memorial stone is inscribed "In loving memory of dear Roy. He volunteered and did his job well".
He was the second son of Edward C. and Agnes N. Tomkins of 21 , Walsworth Rd, Hitchin and was engaged to Leading Wren Eileen Thome of Croydon.
Acknowledgments
David C Baines – ‘Hitchin’s Century of Sacrifice’, Paul Johnson - local historian, Herts Pictorial dated 25th July 1944
