Details taken from Marriage cert. held by JRD 27 June 2003
Armorial families : a directory of gentlemen of coat-armour (Volume 2)
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TOMKINSON of Franche Hall (H. Coll.). Azure, a cross flory between in the first and fourth quarters two martlets, and in the second and third quarters as many wolves' heads erased or, all within a bordure ermine. gules, a wolf's head erased argent, gorged with a collar flory counterflory also gules. Motto— " Sperans pergo." Sons of Michael Tomkinson, Esq., J. P. and D. L. , of Franche Hall, and Chilton, b. 1841 ; d. 1921 ; m. 1871, Annie (d. 1920), d. of Matthew Porritt Stonehouse : — Herbert Tomkinson, Esq., O.B.E., J. P., D.L. co. Worcester, has Order of the Nile, late Major Queen's Own Worcestershire Hussars, b. 1873; m. 1915, Esther Phyllis Anne Charlotte, only child of the late C. J. Cornish ; and has issue — Christopher Charles Tomkinson, Gentleman, b. 1916 ; and 1 dau. Res. — Pool House, Astley, nr. Stourport. Club — Cavalry. Gerald Tomkinson, Gentleman, b. 1876; m. 1907, Florence, third d. of Charles Whitaker of Caldewell, Per- shore ; and has issue — John Whitaker Tomkinson, ( ientle- man, b. 1912; and 4 daus. Res.— Heathfield, Wolverley, nr. Kidderminster. Wilfred Tomkinson, Esq., C.B., M.V.O., Capt. R.N., has Order of SS. Maurice and Lazarus (Italy), Order of Leopold (Belgium), awarded the Stanhope Gold Medal of the Royal Humane Society, b. 1877 ; m. 1907, Edith Joan, eldest d. of Col. G. H. Bittleston, R.A. ; and has issue- Michael Wilfred Tomkinson, Gentleman, Sub.-Lieut. R.N., b. 1908 ; and 4 daus. Club — United Service. Raymond Tomkinson, Gentleman, M.A. (Oxford), b. 1880; m. 1913, Constance Jane, d. of Andrew Currall, and has issue — Michael Currall Tomkinson, Gentleman, b. 1 914; Roger Wilfred Tomkinson, Gentleman, b. 19 16. Res.— Chorley Hall, Bridgnorth. Geoffrey Stewart Tomkinson, Gentleman, O.B. E., M.C., B.A. (Camb.), b. 1 881 ; #2.1912, Frances Murielle, d. of T. R. Fenton of Pemambuco, Brazil ; and has issue— Eric Fenton Tomkinson, Gentleman, b. 1913 ; Kenneth Ronald Geoffrey Tomkinson, Gentleman, b. 19 18; Robert Nigel Vernon Tomkinson, Gentleman, b. 1925. Res. — Francis Martin Tomkinson, Esq., D.S.O. with Bar, Legion of Honour, Brev.-Col. The Worcestershire Regt. , T.A.R., b. 1883. Res.— Chilton, Cleobury Mortimer, Kidderminster. Charles Tomkinson, Esq., D.C., Kenya Colony, b. 1893; m. 1920, Hyacinthe, d. of M. Bailly, of Calais. Address— c/o Crown Agents for the Colonies, Colonial Office.
Colonel Francis Martin TOMKINSON, D.S.O., T.D. Commanded the 7th Battalion Worcestershire Regiment from 1917 to 1921. Born in Kidderminster in 1883, Colonel Tomkinson was the son of Alderman Michael Tomkinson, who was seven times Mayor of Kidderminster. He had a long and honourable association with the 7th Battalion Worcestershire Regiment, which he joined in 1908, being promoted Lieutenant two years later. When the First World War began he was its senior subaltern and he became temporary Major in 1915. On the re-forming of the Territorial Army in 1920 he was promoted Lieutenant-Colonel. He served in France, Belgium and Italy during the 1914-18 war and was mentioned in despatches six times. He gained the Distinguished Service Order in January, 1917, and a bar to his D.S.O. in July, 1917, at Gillemont Partin. From the French Government he received the Legion of Honour and from the Italians the Italian War Cross. He was honorary Colonel of 7th Battalion The Worcestershire Regiment from July, 1929, to December, 1952. Colonel Francis Martin Tomkinson, of Chilton, Cleobury Mortimer, died on 24th November 1963, aged 80 years. He was a solicitor and a founder-member of the Birmingham firm of lawyers of Evershed & Tomkinson. He was also a member of the well-known Kidderminster family who run the carpet firm of Tomkinson's Ltd. His funeral was held at Cleobury Mortimer on 27th November 1963. A bugler from Whittington Barracks, Lichfield, sounded the " Last Post."
Lieut.-Col. F. M. Tomkinson
The Regiment was represented at Colonel Tomkinson's funeral, by Colonel H. J. C. Lattey, T.D., DL., Honorary Colonel of the 7th Battalion (also representing the Colonel of the Regiment), Lieut.- Colonel J. D. Ricketts, D.S.O. (also representing Brigadier B. C. S. Clarke, D.S.O.), and amongst many past and present members of his old Battalion, 7th Battalion The Worcestershire Regiment (T.A.), by Colonel W. R. Prescott, M.C., T.D., D.L., Colonel D. N. Cronin, O.B.E., T.D., Colonel E. R. W. Tooby, O.B.E., M.C., T.D., Colonel C. G. Elkington, D.S.O., T.D., D.L., Lieut.- Colonel R. H. Edwards, T.D., Lieut.- Colonel J. B. Brierley, M.B.E., M.C., J.P., Lieut.- Colonel J. Parkes, M.C., D.C.M., Lieut.- Colonel R. E. Hamilton, T.D. (Commanding 7th Battalion), Major R. H. Leslie-Jones, Major J. S. Bailey, T.D., Major S. G. Goodman and Captain P. G. Adam. His elder brother, Lieut.-Colonel Sir Geoffrey Tomkinson, had also died earlier the same year.
Biography of Vice-Admiral Wilfred Tomkinson
Wilfred Tomkinson was born in 1877, the fourth son of Michael Tomkinson, Franch Hall Kidderminster. He was educated at Stubbington House, Fareham and entered the Royal Navy (Britannia) in 1891. He saw service in the China War of 1900.
He married Edith Joan Bittleston in 1907. They eventually had one son and four daughters.
During the First World War, Tomkinson took part in the operations against Zeebrugge and Ostend (which were led by Sir Roger Keyes). In 1918, Tomkinson received the C.B. and was made the Naval ADC to the King. He received the M.V.O. in 1919 and was subsequently chosen to be Sir Roger Keyes's flag captain in the new battle cruiser H.M.S. Hood. He held this position until 31 March 1921.
1926 saw Tomkinson as the Chief of Staff to Admiral Sir Roger Keyes, Commander in Chief Mediterranean Fleet. He was promoted to Rear-Admiral the following year. At that time, he was serving as the Assistant Chief of the Naval Staff.
In 1929 he took command of the Battle Cruiser Squadron. At this point in time, Hood was starting a lengthy two year overhaul, so Tomkinson commanded from one of the other ships. Once Hood rejoined the fleet in April 1931, Tomkinson set up his command flag in her. He was in command during the infamous Invergordon Mutiny of September 1931. His leniency and understanding of the men's concerns caused him to lose favour with the Admiralty and he retired from service as a Vice-Admiral in late 1932.
Tomkinson stayed active after retirement: In 1935 he was the Flag officer in charge of the Bristol Channel. From 1940 to 1944, he was the Officer of the orders of St Maurice and Lazarus of Italy and Leopold of Belgium. His decorations included the French Croix de Guerre and the Gold medal of Royal Humane Society. In his twilight years he lived in Devizes. Wilfred Tomkinson passed away on 7 October 1971.