George Napier Tomlin

Vice Admiral George Napier Tomlin CMG, MVO (1875–1947) was a British naval officer.

Contents

Private life

In 1911, when Commander George Napier Tomlin was with the Medina, his engagement was announced in The Sketch to Miss Violet Seymour Osborne.[1]

Career

George Napier Tomlin went straight to sea from HMS Britannia,[2] and was in two actions ashore on the west coast of Africa as a 17-year old midshipman.[2] In 1911-12 he navigated HMS Medina, with King George V and Queen Mary on board, to India and back for the 1911 Delhi_Durbar, for which he received the MVO.[2] After the Armistice he was given command of an Allied squadron in the Black Sea, which was responsible for seeing that the terms of the Armistice were carried out.[2] For his services in this connection, he was awarded the CMG.[2] Subsequently he commanded the battleship HMS Canada, built for the Chilean navy, and later handed over to them.[2] His experience during that transaction led to his being ‘lent’ to the Chilean Navy for two years to found a Naval War College after a period on the staff of the corresponding organization at Greenwich.[2] He commanded the Malaya in the Mediterranean, was promoted to Rear-Admiral in 1927 and lent to the Egyptian Government for seven years with the titles of Admiral and Pasha.[2] He retired in 1934.[2]

His service record is as follows:

Ship Dates Post
Anson 1st class battleship - Admiral class June 1890 – August 1891 Midshipman [2]
Raleigh 2nd class cruiser 1891–1894 Midshipman [2]
Philomel 3rd class cruiser - Pearl class August 1894 – November 1894 Sub-Lieutenant [2]
Liberty Sailing brig March 1896 – November 1896 Sub-Lieutenant [2]
Imogene Yacht November 1896 –January 1900 Lieutenant [2]
Sirius 2nd class cruiser - Apollo class March 1900 – September 1900 Lieutenant [2]
Phaëton 2nd class cruiser - Leander class October 1900 – September 1903 Lieutenant [2]
Hood 1st class battleship September 1903- July 1904 Lieutenant [2]
Magnificent 1st class battleship - Majestic class July 1904 – November1906 Lieutenant [2]
Excellent Gunnery shore establishment 1907 Lieutenant [2]
Albemarle 1st class battleship - Duncan class February 1909 – November 1909 Commander [2]
Formidable 1st class battleship - Formidable class November 1909 - January 1910 Commander [2]
Albemarle 1st class battleship - Duncan class January 1910 – November 1911 Commander [2]
Albemarle 1st class battleship - Duncan class January 1910 – November 1911 Commander [2]
Medina November 1911-1912 [2]
Navigation school Portsmouth 1913 [2]
Victoria and Albert(?) Royal Yacht January 1914 – August 1914 Commander [2]
Agincourt Dreadnought battleship August 1914 - 1915 Commander [2]
Agincourt Dreadnought battleship 1915–1916 Captain [2]
 ?
Liverpool Light cruiser - Town class January 1919 – March 1919 Captain [2]
Canada Super-dreadnought battleship April 1919–1920 Captain(?) [2]
Senior Officer’s War Course at Greenwich 1921–1923 Training staff [2]
Chilean Naval War College 1924(?) – 1925(?) Training staff [2]
Malaya Super-dreadnought battleship - Queen Elizabeth class 1926(?) Captain(?) [2]
Egyptian Navy 1927-34 Admiral and Pasha [2]

Medals

Tomlin's medals were put up for sale in 2007, and described as follows:

"A highly important group of Medals and Orders to Rear Admiral George Napier Tomlin (1875-1947), comprising CMG, MVO East and West Africa Medal Benin River 1894, Gambia 1894 (G.N. TOMLIN. MID RN HMS RALEIGH), 1914-15 Trio MID CAPTAIN RN, Delhi Burbar Medal 1911, Chilean Order "AL MERITO" 2nd Class; Order of Leopold II (Grand Officer), Order of the Gown of Italy (Grand Officer (neck badge and breast star), Order of the Nile 2nd Class (neck badge and breast star), together with companion group of miniatures mounted as worn, his naval sword and naval dirk and a copy photograph. Captain George Napier Tomlin HMS Liverpool Commanding Allied Squadron in support of the White Army during the Russian Civil War. Known to have been in Touapse and Novorossisk during November 1918".[3]

Parts of his uniform have also been put up for sale, described as follows:

"English tole cased four piece dress uniform set, originally belonging to Royal Navy Vice-Admiral George Napier Tomlin (1875 to 1947), commander of the Allied Squadron in support of the White Army during the Russian Revolution and sailing on the HMS Liverpool (active 1909-1921).
"The set comprised of a gilt brass and shagreen mounted steel dress sword and scabbard (24.5" long), a pair of Gieves Limited, London, gold and silver epaulettes (5.5" wide by 7.5" long), and an Admiral's dress ..."[4]

Footnotes

  1. ^ 1911 issue THE SKETCH Magazine
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah E-Bay item description for CD of original photo album 1905-1912 HMS Magnificent
  3. ^ Medals
  4. ^ Uniform Set; English Navy, Dress, Epaulettes Hat & Sword, Case, Admiral Tomlin.