Brigadier C T Tomes CBE DSO MC

Clement Thurstan Tomes came from a Warwickshire land-owning family that dated back to the 14th century. The family home at Long Marston was one of Charles II's hiding places after the Battle of Worcester in 1651. Clement was born in India in 1882. His father was a surgeon in the Indian Medical Service. He was educated at Marlborough and Sandhurst, joining the 4th Battalion Warwicks at Peshawar. He served on the northwest frontier in 1908 and was adjutant in 1910.
He gained a reputation as a first class shot at this time, winning prizes and training the regimental team. A fellow officer of his was Cyril Newall who later became Marshal of the RAF. Newall's sister Gladys became Clement's wife, they married in Bombay in 1912.
In 1914 he went to France with the 4th Battalion and stayed there throughout the war apart from a spell in north Italy. He was wounded twice at Meteren and 2nd Ypres. He won the DSO and MC as well as the Legion of Honour. He was mentioned in despatches 3 times.
He commanded the 1st Battalion after the war and in 1928 they moved to Woking where they were part of a mechanised experiment in the Aldershot Command. He was well liked and had a gentle approach to man management. His nickname was Old Smolders because of his constant pipe smoking.
In 1931 he was a full Colonel, appointed AAG at the War Office. In 1935 he was a Brigadier in charge of Admin HQ Troops in Egypt. He retired in 1939 but was recalled when war broke out. He was DAG 2nd Echelon BEF in France, then in Northern Command before finally retiring in 1941 with a CBE. For the rest of the War he carried out his duties as Colonel of the Royal Warwickshires with diligence. He did his best to ensure that those men of the regiment who were prisoners of the Germans were cared for. Also showing consideration for the families of casualties and prisoners.
He had a deep interest in the regiment's history and wrote a booklet on its military customs and origins which sold for the benefit of the Red Cross POW fund. His family have an association with the regiment. His son and two grandsons have served in the Warwicks. When Gladys died in 1948 he later remarried, Clare, who was a widow of fellow officer Lt-Col Taylor.

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