Ernest Tomkins

Ernest Leith Tomkins (15 February 1869 – 17 May 1927) was an English first-class cricketer and British Army officer.

The son of Major-General William Percival Tomkins and his wife, Annie, he was born in British Burma at Rangoon in February 1869. He was educated at Wellington College,[1] before attending the Royal Military Academy. He graduated in February 1888 as a second lieutenant into the Royal Artillery,[2] with promotion to lieutenant in February 1891.[3] He was seconded in September 1897 to the Indian Ordnance Department,[4] with promotion to captain following during his secondment in October 1898.[5] Tomkins played first-class cricket in British India as a wicket-keeper for the Europeans cricket team on two occasions against the Parsees in the Bombay Presidency Matches of 1899 and 1900.[6] He scored 67 runs at an average of 22.33;[7] his highest score of 65 came in the 1899 fixture, and was the second highest score of the Europeans first innings, behind J. G. Greig's 184.[8]

Tomkins was later promoted to major in December 1908,[9] before serving in the First World War, during which he was promoted to lieutenant colonel in February 1916.[10] Following four years service as a regimental lieutenant colonel, he was placed on the half-pay list in January 1921 and was removed from the Reserve of Officers in March 1924, having obtained the age limit of liability to recall.[11] Tomkins was married to Marie-Louise Marigny, a Frenchwoman. Their son, Edward, was a British diplomat.[12] Tomkins died in France at Dieppe in May 1927.[13]