Nicholas Tomlinson
| Nicholas Ralph Tomlinson | |
|---|---|
Lithograph of Tomlinson
|
|
| Born | 2 July 1803 England |
| Died | 18 May 1842 (aged 38) Battle of Chapu, China |
| Buried | At sea |
| Allegiance |
 British East India Company
|
| Service/ |
British Army/Infantry |
| Rank | Lieutenant Colonel |
| Unit | 18th (Royal Irish) Regiment of Foot |
| Commands held | 18th (Royal Irish) Regiment of Foot |
| Battles/wars | Capture of Chusan, Battle of Canton, Battle of Amoy, Second Capture of Chusan, Battle of Ningpo, Battle of Tzeki and finally the Battle of Chapu all in the First Opium War with the Chinese |
| Awards | China War Medal (1842) |
| Relations | Father Nicholas Tomlinson was a senior Royal Navy Officer |
Nicholas Ralph Tomlinson (1803-1842) was a British Army Infantry Officer who Commanded Her Majesty's 18th (Royal Irish) Regiment of Foot during the First Anglo-Chinese War (First Opium War). He was the second son of Vice Admiral Nicholas Tomlinson and his wife Mary who lived in the county of Essex.
Nicholas Ralph Tomlinson's military career was recorded in Hart's Military Directory and other military gazettes as follows:
Nicholas Tomlinson deployed with his regiment as part of Lieutenant General Sir Hugh Gough's force to subdue the Imperial Qing Chinese Forces resisting East India Company trading access to coastal China. The Chinese forces were numerous but often poorly equipped.
He would fight with distinction at the following engagements:
Lieutenant Colonel Tomlinson was killed leading his regiment at the Battle of Chapu on 2 May 1842, specifically an attack on a fortified religious building (called a Joss House by the British), which was heavily defended by Tartar soldiers. Sir Hugh Gough wrote effusively about the bravery of Nicholas Tomlinson and that he was buried at sea. His death and the death of others of his regiment is commemorated with a memorial in St Patrick's Cathedral Dublin. The 18th of foot would lose their commanding officer, a serjeant and three soldiers killed; and a further two officers, a serjeant, a drummer and 27 soldiers wounded - the 18th had the highest casualties of any of the regiments in action that day at Chapu.
...
Wikipedia