Name
Frank Tomlin
1873
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
09/06/1917
43
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Sergeant
9093
Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry
5th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 /15 Star, British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
TILLOY BRITISH CEMETERY, TILLOY-LES-MOFFLAINES
Grave I.H.14
France
Headstone Inscription
REST IN PEACE
UK & Other Memorials
St Mary Magdalene Church Plaque, Flaunden, St Mary Magdalene Church Scroll, Flaunden, Letchworth Garden City War Memorial, Letchworth
Pre War
Frank Tomlin was born in 1873 in Chesham, Bucks, the son of Nathan Tomlin and Elizabeth.
In the 1881 Census the family of parents, Alfred, George, Annie and Jesse were living at Maple Tree, Chesham, Bucks, where his father was working as an agricultural labourer. Then in the 1891 Census Walter was working as a labourer and living with his parents and brother Jesse at Hempstead Road, Chesham. Also in this Census, Frank was a lodger at the 'Horse and Jockey', Wycombe, Bucks, run by Charles Heath who was a Beer House Keeper and Chair Maker. Frank Tomlin was working as a Brushmaker. There were five other young men lodging there who gave their occupations as agricultural labourers or shoemakers as well as being Privates in the Oxfordshire Light Infantry. (Territorials).
At the time of the 1911 Census he was 37 years old, single, and working as a Gardener, Domestic, and living at Shantock, Bovingdon, Herts. He was working for Lord Hamilton at Shantock Hall, Bovingdon.
He married Emily Frances Bellward from Letchworth, Herts on 9 May 1915 at St Michael the Archangel, Aldershot Parish Church, Surrey, just before he went to France. Emily had a son Edward Bellward who Frank accepted as stepson. (see additional information below). Witnesses were William Bellward and Mary Ann Bellward. Frank's home address on SDGW is given as Letchworth, Herts. Emily's address on pension records is Letchworth Lane, Letchworth.
Wartime Service
He enlisted in Chesham, Bucks as Private 9993 soon after The Great War had broken out and served with the 5th (Service) Battalion, Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry.
He went to France with his Battalion on 20 May 1915, landing on 21 May 1915 at Boulogne. During his service he was promoted to Sergeant . Frank would have seen action in Belgium at Hooge and the Second Attack on Bellewaarde in 1915, followed by the Somme in 1916 at the Battles of Delville Wood and Flers-Courcelette and 1917 at 1st & 3rd Battles of the Scarpe.
Frank was killed in action in France on 9 June 1917, aged 43 and is buried in Tilloy British Cemetery. France.
Additional Information
His widow, Mrs E F Tomlin, Letchworth Lane, Letchworth, Herts., received a war gratuity of £16. There was no pay owing but a debit balance of £2 4s 10d. She did receive a pension of £1 1s 0d. a week for herself and her child George Overton Bellward (an illegitimate stepchild). N.B. Reg no. on some records incorrectly given as 9993. N.B. Frank's promotion to Sergeant in 1915 suggests that possibly he had experience either as a regular soldier or as a territorial soldier, perhaps between 1891 and 1911 when he has not been found on the 1901 Census.
Acknowledgments
Brenda Palmer, Neil Cooper
Jonty Wild, dacorumheritage.org.uk., www.roll-of-honour.com, www.warmemorialsonline.org.uk
