View source for George Napier Tomlin

[[File:George-Napier-Tomlin, NPG x185713.jpg|thumb|right|350px|George N. Tomlin as a Captain, 1917.<br><small>Portrait: © National Portrait Gallery, London.</small>]]
[[Vice-Admiral (Royal Navy)|Vice-Admiral]] '''George Napier Tomlin''', C.M.G., M.V.O., Royal Navy, Retired (25 July, 1875 &ndash; 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 {{UK-Raleigh|f=t}} 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 {{UK-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 {{UK-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 {{LieutRN}} on 31 December, 1896.{{Gaz|26809|4|1 January, 1897}}  The newly-fashioned Lieutenant was appointed to {{UK-Imogene}} for navigation duties, switching to {{UK-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 {{UK-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 {{UK-1Phaeton|f=t}} upon her commissioning.<ref>Tomlin Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/44/59.|D7576587}} f. 52.</ref>

[[File:George_Tomlin_Magnificent.jpg|thumb|right|350px|Tomlin as Lieutenant ('''N''') in {{UK-Magnificent}}, c. 1905.<br><small>From official officers' photograph in Tomlin's album.</small>]]
Tomlin was appointed to the {{UK-Magnificent|f=tp}} 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.<ref>Printed programme from the collection of Admiral George Napier Tomlin.</ref>

On 30 June, 1908, Tomlin was promoted to the rank of {{CommRN}}.{{GazSup|28151|4644|26 June, 1908}}

On 5 February 1912, Tomlin was appointed to ''Dryad'', additional, for special service.{{NavAppts|Tuesday, February 6, 1912, Issue 39814, p.4}} He married Violet Seymour Osborne at St. Peter's in Eaton Square ten days later.<ref>Tomlin Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/44/59.|D7576587}} f. 52.</ref>

==Great War==
Tomlin began the war as navigation officer of {{UK-Agincourt}}, working there from August to 5 January, 1915, having been promoted to the rank of {{CaptRN}} on 31 December, 1914.  He was appointed to Navy Office, Ramsgate as Senior Naval Officer.  He would remain there until 27 May 1917.<ref>Tomlin Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/44.|}}  f. 52.</ref>

After two weeks in temporary command of {{UK-Ceres}} upon her commissioning, in mid-June 1917 Tomlin was appointed in command of the {{UK-Weymouth|f=t}}.  In September, he was appointed to the {{UK-1Liverpool|f=t}}.  He commanded her until late March, 1919 when he was appointed in command of {{UK-Canada}}.<ref>Tomlin Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/44.|}}  f. 52.</ref>

It would fall to Tomline to deliver {{UK-Canada}} to the Chilean Government on 18 October, 1920, and received a letter of appreciation from them for his efforts.<ref>Tomlin Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/44.}}  f. 52.</ref>

Tomlin commanded {{UK-Malaya}} for fourteen months, from 15 August, 1924 until being superseded on 15 October, 1925.<ref>Tomlin Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/44.}}  f. 52.</ref>

He was promoted to the rank of {{RearRN}} on 24 November, 1925, vice [[Wilmot Stuart Nicholson|Nicholson]], and was placed on the Retired List at his own request on 25 November.{{Gaz|33110|7950|1 December, 1925}}  He was advanced to the rank of {{ViceRN}} on the Retired List on 8 May, 1930.{{Gaz|33604|2867|9 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.<ref>"Deaths" (Deaths).  ''The Times''.  Monday, 12 May, 1947.  Issue '''50758''', col B, p. 1.</ref>

==Bibliography==
{{refbegin}}
*"Deaths" (Deaths).  ''The Times''.  Monday, 12 May, 1947.  Issue '''50758''', col B, pg. 1.
{{refend}}

==See Also==
{{refbegin}}
{{WP|https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Napier_Tomlin}}
{{refend}}

==Service Records==
{{refbegin}}
*{{TNA|ADM 196/44.|}}
{{refend}}

<div name=fredbot:appts>{{TabApptsBegin}}
{{TabNaval}}
{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''[[Richard Hyde|Richard Hyde]]'''|'''[[H.M.S. Harrier (1894)|Captain of H.M.S. ''Harrier'']]'''<br>10 Jul, 1912<ref>Tomlin Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/44.}}  f. 52.</ref> &ndash; 10 Feb, 1914<ref>Tomlin Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/44.}}  f. 52.</ref>|Succeeded by<br>'''[[Winstanley Robert Coverdale Moorsom|Winstanley R. C. Moorsom]]'''}}
{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''?'''|'''[[Ramsgate|Senior Naval Officer, Ramsgate]]'''<br>15 Jan, 1915 &ndash; 28 May, 1917|Succeeded by<br>'''[[Walter Lingen Allen|Walter L. Allen]]'''}}
{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''New Command'''|'''[[H.M.S. Ceres (1917)|Captain of H.M.S. ''Ceres'']]'''<br>30 May, 1917<ref>Tomlin Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/44.}}  f. 52.</ref> &ndash; 13 Jun, 1917<ref>Tomlin Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/44.}}  f. 52.</ref>|Succeeded by<br>'''[[Herbert Meade|Herbert Meade]]'''}}
{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''[[John Donald Kelly|John D. Kelly]]'''|'''[[H.M.S. Weymouth (1910)|Captain of H.M.S. ''Weymouth'']]'''<br>14 Jun, 1917<ref>Tomlin Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/44.}}  f. 52.</ref> &ndash; Sep, 1917<ref>Tomlin Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/44.}}  f. 52.</ref>|Succeeded by<br>'''[[William Archibald Howard Kelly|William A. H. Kelly]]'''}}
{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''[[Gerald William Vivian|Gerald W. Vivian]]'''|'''[[H.M.S. Liverpool (1909)|Captain of H.M.S. ''Liverpool'']]'''<br>Sep, 1917{{NLFeb19|p. 833}} &ndash; 28 Mar, 1919<ref>Tomlin Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/44.}}  f. 52.</ref>|Succeeded by<br>'''?'''}}
{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''[[Hugh Dudley Richards Watson|Hugh D. R. Watson]]'''|'''[[H.M.S. Canada (1913)|Captain of H.M.S. ''Canada'']]'''<br>28 Mar, 1919{{NLAug19|p. 750}}<ref>Tomlin Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/44.}}  f. 52.</ref> &ndash; 4 Oct, 1920<ref>Tomlin Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/44.}}  f. 52.</ref>|Succeeded by<br>'''Ship sold to Chile'''}}
{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''[[Roger Roland Charles Backhouse|Roger R. C. Backhouse]]'''|'''[[H.M.S. Malaya (1915)|Captain of H.M.S. ''Malaya'']]'''<br>15 Aug, 1924{{NLApr25|p. 253}}<ref>Tomlin Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/44.}}  f. 228.</ref> &ndash; 15 Oct, 1925<ref>Tomlin Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/44.}}  f. 228.</ref>|Succeeded by<br>'''[[Edward Astley Astley-Rushton|Edward A. Astley-Rushton]]'''}}
{{TabEnd}}
</div name=fredbot:appts>

==Footnotes==
{{reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Tomlin, George}}

{{CatPerson|UK|1875|1947}}
{{CatBritannia|July, 1888}}
{{CatNavigatingOfficer|UK}}
{{CatVice|UK}}

[[Category:Royal Navy Officers Educated at Portsmouth Grammar School]]
[[Category:Naval Aides-de-Camp to King George V]]
{{CatRN}}