352 Private Roy Colin Tolmie
6th Battalion AIF
by Robert Simpson
Roy Colin Tolmie was born in 1890 in Collingwood, Victoria. He was the first son of James Isaac Collins Tolmie and Ada Oliver. James had been born in Australia and this was his second marriage, his first wife having died in 1887. James and Ada were married on 17th December 1888 in Victoria. Ada was also born in Victoria. They had another son, Raymond Oliver in 1892. This constituted their family. They lived in Melbourne. He attended Middle Park State School and was involved with the cadets at some stage. In the 1903 Electoral Roll they were living at 149 Dank St., Canterbury, South Melbourne and James was a constable. In 1905 Roy was placed second in the violin solo, under sixteen-year group at the Musical and Elocutionary Competitions at the Dandenong Town Hall on 12th July. By 1914 they had moved to 160 High St. Kew. James had changed professions and was a tobacconist. Roy had a job as a clerk.
On 21st August 1914 Roy enlisted at Richmond as Private 352 6th Battalion AIEF and was assigned in C Company, 6th Battalion. He was still living at 160 High St. Collingwood, with his parents, and gives his Father as next-of-kin. He was 24 years and 6 months old, 5 foot 9.5 inches tall, weighed 10 stone 4 pounds, had a chest measurement of 35 inches, a medium complexion, hazel eyes and dark brown hair. He gave his religion as Presbyterian. He had an appendix scar from and operation in 1910 and had had 3 vaccines as an infant and 2 recently.
The 6th Battalion embarked on HMAT Hororata A20 in Melbourne on 19th October 1914 and arrived in Egypt on 2nd December. He embarked to join the M.E.F. at Alexandria on 5th April 1915 (Gallipoli campaign). The 6th Battalion was part of the second wave to land at Gallipoli on the 25th. It was to form the Brigade reserve and part of it was to be involved in replenishing ammunition. A note on the operation order states that the bayonet will be used wherever possible and water and ammunition were to be conserved.
He was killed on 25th April 1915 and has no known grave. His active service record simply states “killed in action Gallipoli 25/4/15”. It is not known what happened to him that day or what happened to his body afterwards. The Battalion War Diary for that month is missing, but thankfully a Lieutenant in the 8th Battalion found notes of that day and recorded them for the 2nd Infantry Brigade Diary. It mentions the assault on Kaba Tepe and how intense the battle was and that casualties were heavy. There was no will made beforehand. He is remembered on the Lone Pine Memorial at Gallipoli, one of the 487 men of the AIF who were killed that day and have no known grave. There were two parcels of his effects sent to his parents, one contained 2 testaments and 2 postcards, the other contained a disc, a knife, a bangle, letters and a purse containing 2 keys and 6 coins. They were signed for by his Father after being delivered by Thomas Cook.
His Father wrote to the Defence Base asking for a death certificate in 1916, so that the Railway Benefit Society can pay him the allowance and a Lodge also writes for a record to pay a funeral fund. He also signs for his 1914-15 Star, British War medal and Victory medal, his Memorial Scroll and Plaque. His parents must have missed him dearly, as there are memorial notices for him for quite a few years afterwards.
His Father was fined in 1928 for using his tobacco shop as a premises for betting. James Tolmie passed away in 1946.
His brother, Raymond, joined up on 8th June 1915 with the 22nd Battalion (8th Reinforcements) as Private 1967. His occupation was a chauffer and it was also this on the 1914 Electoral Roll. He was still living with his parents at 160 High St. He had served with the cadets at Albert Park for 2 years. His description was age 23 years 5 months, height 5 feet 3.25 inches, weight 10 stone 11 pounds, chest measurement 33.5 to 35.5 inches, fresh complexion, brown eyes, dark brown hair and a Presbyterian. The battalion embarked on HMAT Anchises A68 on 26th August 1915. The army did not go well with him and he went AWL a few times and was drunk as well which lead to a Field General Court Martial in 1916. He was admitted to hospital with scoliosis and was also wounded in action. He was transferred to the A.A.S.C.M.T. in 1917. Eventually he was returned to Australia in 1917 and discharged in early 1918. He applied for a pension, but it was rejected. He was entitled to the 1914-15 Star, the British War Medal and the Victory Medal.
After the war, he lived with his parents at the same address and he was a motor mechanic. In 1923, he was fined for having driven a motor car along St. Kilda Rd at a dangerous speed. Constable Smith gave evidence that on 16th December he timed the car driven by Tolmie and found it was travelling at the rate of 31.25 miles an hour. He was fined 2 pounds. He married Eileen Theresa Quinn in 1924 in Melbourne. They had two sons, James Oliver born 1924 and John Colin born in 1931. In 1931, they were living at 3 Iona St and he had no occupation. The 1936, 7 and 42 Electoral Rolls show them living at 30 Barker St and he was a public servant. From 1949 to 1968 the address was 30 Dundas Place and he was a driver. He died in 1971 in Morning Hill, Victoria.
ANZAC Biographies
On our website you will find the biographical details of ANZAC (as well as British) servicemen & women
whose medals or other memorabilia form part of the collection belonging to the
Maryborough Military & Colonial Museum,
Maryborough, Queensland, Australia.