Major David Mitchell TOMLINSON (1879-1916).

The following is an excerpt from "The Great War in History : Disaster at the Kink 11 May 1916" (Author P.E. Hodgkinson 22 May 2016).

"At 8.30 am, on 11 May 1916, the Royal Scots took over the trenches opposite the Hohenzollern Re-doubt at Loos. The fighting of September-October 1915 had left the British possession of part of the west of the Redoubt, and between 2-18 March 1916 mining and further fighting had left a small outcrop in the German lines (Bill's Bluff) - around the edge of the craters opposite two small outcrops in the opposing British Salient, with a slight re-entrant between the left hand crop which was known as "Hussar's Horn" and the right hand crop which was known as "The Kink".

At 16.15 (4.15pm) that day - 11 May 1916 - the enemy opened up a very heavy bombardment and at 17.00 (5.00pm) a shell entered the battalion Headquarters dug-out killing or wounding the entire battalion HQ. Included in the dead was Lieutenant-Colonel Richard B. C. Raban - the Lieutenant Colonel commanding the 13th Royal Scots (Refer his Obituary "The Times' 26 May 1916) and Second-in-Command, of the 13th Royal Scots,  Major Hugh F.M. Worthington-Wilmer.

The German bombardment slackened off at 17.15 (5.15pm) and the enemy could be seen crawling into the craters of "The Kink". The bombardment resumed and at 18.10 (6.10pm) the attack began. The Germans advanced in 'lines and waves' - the first line throwing bombs, and behind them 'thick lines of infantry' 20-50 yards part.

Despite repelling some of the enemy with rifle, Lewis Gun and artillery fire - Major David Mitchell Tomlinson - now commanding, withdrew his men (of the 13th Royal Scots) into Sackville Street, two trenches behind the front line - which had been obliterated. A vicious bombing fight ensued, continuing to midnight, at which point it was noted 'it appeared certain that the lost ground could not be regained by bombing alone'.

Between 19.00 (7.00pm) and 20.00 (8.00pm) the second command disaster occurred. Major (David M) Tomlinson, going forward to reconnoitre, was mortally wounded - dying the following day. A 38 year old New Zealand Mining Engineer, Tomlinson had graduated from the University of Otago (Dunedin, New Zealand) in 1904 - with a B.Sc in Metallugical Engineering. He was commissioned into the Royal Scots, from Lance-Corporal in the Royal Engineers in May 1915".

The fighting continued - and on the 12th of May 1916 -  a 5 minute artillery bombardment opened up and an attack went forward with heavy losses - failing on the right in the direction of "The Kink" - but being more successful on the left. By 02.00 (2.00am) the existing line was consoliated - but "The Kink" was lost".

 

 

 

 

 

 

Jenifer Everett