George Napier Tomlin

George N. Tomlin as a Captain, 1917.
Portrait: © National Portrait Gallery, London.

Vice-Admiral George Napier Tomlin, C.M.G., M.V.O., Royal Navy, Retired (25 July, 1875 – 7 May, 1947) was an officer of the Royal Navy. He was a man of powerful but friendly appearance with a heavy frame.

Life & Career

The son of a Royal Navy captain, likely George James Tomlin.

Tomlin was appointed to the cruiser Raleigh on 15 September 1891 and served on the Cape of Good Hope Station. This posting placed him in action at Bathurst against Fodi Silah, gazetted 4 May 1894. In mid-July he was lent to Philomel by the Commander in Chief, where he served under Captain Charles Campbell. In September, he again saw action against Nanna of Brohemie, gazetted 21 December 1894. On 29 December he arrived in Grafton.

Tomlin obtained a second-class certificate in pilotage in February 1896, having failed to do so in December.

Tomlin was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant on 31 December, 1896. The newly-fashioned Lieutenant was appointed to Imogene for navigation duties, switching to Cyclops at some point. He was there for several years. On 21 February 1900, he incurred the Admiralty's displeasure in allowing discrepancies to arise in the Imogene's accounts and stores. He was required to pay for half the deficiency.

In September 1900, he was one of several Lieutenants appointed to the serve in the second class protected cruiser Phaeton upon her commissioning.

File:George Tomlin Magnificent.jpg

Tomlin as Lieutenant (N) in Magnificent, c. 1905.
From official officers' photograph in Tomlin's album.

Tomlin was appointed to the battleship H.M.S. Magnificent for navigation duties from 16 July 1904 through 4 August, 1908. He would record his time in the ship in a photo album and memorabilia book. It is thanks to this that we know that Tomlin portrayed William Tipson, the butler, in "Jane", "a farce in 3 acts" performed in October 1907 aboard the battleship. Robert Leal Jermain would play "Jane" in this production.

On 30 June, 1908, Tomlin was promoted to the rank of Commander.

On 5 February 1912, Tomlin was appointed to Dryad, additional, for special service. He married Violet Seymour Osborne at St. Peter's in Eaton Square ten days later.

Great War

Tomlin began the war as navigation officer of Agincourt, working there from August to 5 January, 1915, having been promoted to the rank of Captain on 31 December, 1914. He was appointed to Navy Office, Ramsgate as Senior Naval Officer. He would remain there until 27 May 1917.

After two weeks in temporary command of Ceres upon her commissioning, in mid-June 1917 Tomlin was appointed in command of the light cruiser Weymouth. In September, he was appointed to the light cruiser Liverpool. He commanded her until late March, 1919 when he was appointed in command of Canada.

It would fall to Tomline to deliver Canada to the Chilean Government on 18 October, 1920, and received a letter of appreciation from them for his efforts.

Tomlin commanded Malaya for fourteen months, from 15 August, 1924 until being superseded on 15 October, 1925.

He was promoted to the rank of Rear-Admiral on 24 November, 1925, vice Nicholson, and was placed on the Retired List at his own request on 25 November. He was advanced to the rank of Vice-Admiral on the Retired List on 8 May, 1930.

Tomlin served as Assistant Comamnder of the R.A.F. Volunteer Reserve in Town Centre Luton in 1939, but this appears to have lasted only briefly, after which time his standing became honourary.

Tomlin died on 7 May, 1947 at the age of seventy-one, and was buried at sea. A memorial service was held at Whitestaunton Parish Church on 13 May.

Bibliography

• "Deaths" (Deaths). The Times. Monday, 12 May, 1947. Issue 50758, col B, pg. 1.

See Also

• Wikipedia

Service Records

• The National Archives. ADM 196/44.

Naval Appointments
Preceded by Richard Hyde	Captain of H.M.S. Harrier 10 Jul, 1912 – 10 Feb, 1914	Succeeded by Winstanley R. C. Moorsom
Preceded by ?	Senior Naval Officer, Ramsgate 15 Jan, 1915 – 28 May, 1917	Succeeded by Walter L. Allen
Preceded by New Command	Captain of H.M.S. Ceres 30 May, 1917 – 13 Jun, 1917	Succeeded by Herbert Meade
Preceded by John D. Kelly	Captain of H.M.S. Weymouth 14 Jun, 1917 – Sep, 1917	Succeeded by William A. H. Kelly
Preceded by Gerald W. Vivian	Captain of H.M.S. Liverpool Sep, 1917 – 28 Mar, 1919	Succeeded by ?
Preceded by Hugh D. R. Watson	Captain of H.M.S. Canada 28 Mar, 1919 – 4 Oct, 1920	Succeeded by Ship sold to Chile
Preceded by Roger R. C. Backhouse	Captain of H.M.S. Malaya 15 Aug, 1924 – 15 Oct, 1925	Succeeded by Edward A. Astley-Rushton