Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of Harry Francis Tomblin, a commercial traveller, born 1870 in Cold Overton, Leicestershire and his wife Mary Maud Tomblin (nee Hepburn, married in the 3rd quarter of 1891 in the St. Pancras, Middlesex district), born 1868 in Kentish Town, Middlesex. Lionel John Orme was born on the 6th November 1894 in Stroud Green, Middlesex, he had one sibling, a brother Reginald Henry, born 1897 in Stroud Green, in March 1901 the family home was at 37, Lancaster Road, Hornsey, Middlesex. In April 1911 Lionel was employed as an apprentice draper and was residing with his father, a drapery commercial traveller, his mother and brother Reginald, a schoolboy at Wing, Rutland, this being the family home of his paternal Grandparents, Robert Henry Tomblin, a retired farmer, born 1842 in Coles Lodge, Braunston, Rutland and his wife Eliza Tomblin, born 1844 in Knossington, Leicestershire.
Lionel attested into the Army on a Short Service engagement of 3 years with the Colours on the 26th October 1914 in Market Harborough, Leicestershire. He gave his place of birth as Stroud Green, Middlesex and his age as 19 years. He confirmed that he was unmarried. He gave his father H. F. Tomblin, his mother M. Tomblin and his brother R. Tomblin all of 45, Burton Street, Melton Mowbray as his next of kin. His medical examination recorded that he was 5 foot 7¾ inches in height, weighed 119 pounds and he had a chest measurement of between 31 and 34½ inches. His complexion was described as pale, his hair colour was brown and he had brown eyes. He gave his religion as Church of England. He was pronounced fit for the Army on the 26th October 1914 in Market Harborough, Leicestershire. His record of service began when he joined the Depot of the Leicestershire Regiment as a Private, service number 15735 on the 26/10/14. Commenced preliminary training on the 26/10/14. Posted to the Depot on the 14/11/14. Posted to the 3rd Battalion Leicestershire Regiment on the 19/12/14. Embarked from Southampton to join the British Expeditionary Force in France on the 7/4/15. Disembarked Rouen on the 8/4/15. Posted to the 1st Battalion Leicestershire Regiment on the 8/4/15. Joined the 1st Battalion Leicestershire Regiment in the field on the 28/4/15. Killed in action on the 27/10/15. A summary of his service records: Home Service, 26/10/14 – 7/4/15, 165 days. British Expeditionary Force, France, 8/4/15 – 27/10/15, 204 days. Total service 1 year 2 days. Lionel was awarded the 1914-15 Star, British and Victory medals. The following information was provided by Lionel’s father H. F. Tomblin on the 7th May 1919, and was witnessed and signed by K. W. Brownlow, J.P., 38, Burton Road, Melton Mowbray on ARMY FORM W. 5080 (Information on deceased soldier’s family) Father of soldier, H. F. Tomblin, of 24, Burton Street, Melton Mowbray. Mother of soldier, M. Tomblin of 24, Burton Street, Melton Mowbray. Full blood brother of soldier, Corp. R. Tomblin, age 22 of 24, Burton Street, Melton Mowbray. Lionel’s surviving service documents are in a very poor condition, and much of the finer detail relating to the period of time that he spent in the Army, is either illegible or missing, hence the sparse overall description of his military and personal family history.
The War Diary records: 27 Oct-15 - Front trenches shelled by shrapnel occasionally. Battalion Headquarters also shelled. “B” Company 1 sick, 1 wounded, “C” Company 2 killed, 2 shock (shell), “D” Company 1 sick, 3 wounded (shrapnel).
On Friday November 19th 1915 The Melton Mowbray Times & Vale of Belvoir Gazette published the following article under the heading. “MELTON AND THE WAR.” – ANOTHER MELTONIAN KILLED. (A photograph accompanied the article). Private Lionel Tomblin, of the 1st Battalion Leicestershire Regiment, (son of Mr. and Mrs. H. F. Tomblin, of 45, Burton-street, Melton Mowbray), was killed in action on October 27th. The official news was received by his parents on Monday from the officer in charge of records at Lichfield, and accompanying it was the customary letter from Lord Kitchener expressing sympathy on behalf of the King and Queen. According to the official intimation the place where his death occurred is not known, but from private information we gather that he was killed in the Near East. Deceased was a native of London, came to Melton with his parents nearly five years ago. For three and half years he was in the employ of Messrs. Gibson and Son, drapers, High-street, Melton, and from there he was transferred to Messrs. Shingler and Douglas, drapers, Market Harborough. On the outbreak of the war he and his younger brother Reginald enlisted in the 7th Battalion of the Leicestershire Regiment, but the deceased was transferred to the 1st Battalion, and went out with a draft last February. Since then he has been in the thick of the fighting practically all the time, and has taken part in several engagements, including the battle for Hill 60. On one occasion he was in the trenches for 32 days at a stretch. Deceased was 20 years of age, and would have attained his majority had he lived until the 6th of this month. Indeed his parents had sent him a quantity of good things to enable him to celebrate his coming of age. Mrs. Tomblin has this week received a letter from her other son, Pte. Reginald Tomblin, dated Nov. 9th 1915, in which he says:- The other night two large dogs came from the German trenches and jumped down into ours and our battalion have them for a mascot. There was also a German who gave himself up; this occurred about midnight. The German came up to our trenches with hands up, and he was taken prisoner. The first thing he said was that he was fed up with it, and that he had been worked very hard. If they worked all day they had to go on sentry all night, or if they worked all night they had to go on duty all day, and that would very soon wear a man out, for he could not stand it long. He only looked about eighteen, and about five foot one in height. Our battalion has started on passes, but I don’t suppose it will come to my turn for months yet, as they can only let a few go at a time. I would like to see the letter which my mate, Charlie Wood, who was wounded, sent you. He was in the same action as myself. I have not heard from Lionel for over three weeks, and it seems funny that he has not written before. I have heard a rumour about the 1st Leicesters going to ----, but I don’t think it is true. Should it be true that would be the reason why you have not heard from him. Well I think I have written a good long letter this time. With best love from your loving son, Reg.
On Friday December 10th 1915 The Melton Mowbray Times & Vale of Belvoir Gazette published the following article under the heading. “MELTON AND THE WAR.” – HOW PTE. L. TOMLIN DIED. With reference to the death of Private Lionel Tomlin of the 1st Leicesters, whose death on the 27th October, was recorded in our issue of November 19th, his father Mr. H. F. Tomlin, of 45, Burton-street, Melton Mowbray, has just received the following letter:- “1st Leicestershire Regiment, B.E.F., 2.12.15. Dear Sir,- I must apologise for not having answered by return. I invariably write to the parents of any of my men who are killed, but I could not find any address in your son’s effects. He was killed on October 27th, during a rather heavy bombardment. Death was instantaneous, as he was hit on the head by a large piece of shell. We buried him next day, and a cross bearing his name, number and regiment, has been erected on his grave. The place and number of his grave will be forwarded to you later from the Record Office, Lichfield. Your son was always willing and trustworthy, and an excellent soldier. I am extremely sorry to lose him, and offer you my deepest sympathy in your loss. Yours Faithfully,-Chas. W. Herbison, O.C.C. Company.”