Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

​Born 1875 at Tipperary, Ireland
Son of Robert TOMKINS
Husband of Mrs. TOMKINS
Of Cracknell Road, Brisbane, Qld.
Resided Oakey, Qld.
Aged 40 years
Enlisted 20 September 1915 for Continuous Service
Embarked 21 October 1915 per 'HMAT Seang Bee' from Brisbane, Qld.
Returned to Australia 13 January 1918
​Died 15 May 1934 at St. Martin's Hospital

SOLDIER, CLERIC, PADRE
Death of Rev. C. W. Tomkins
When Rev. C. W. Tomkins obeyed, the last post In St. Martin's Hospital early this morning, there passed one who had played a man's part In the various spheres In which his busy life had been cast, and those spheres ranged from soldiering In peace time to that of padre In the greatest war the world has yet seen. Between those stages lay many years of pioneering in church work in far North Queensland, roughing it on the roads, facing floods and cyclones with undaunted courage and taking life as he found it wherever duty called.

MAN FROM TIPPERARY.
When serving as a padre in the A.I.F. the late Mr. Tomkins heard the men singing, "It's a long way from Tipperary' it reminded him literally of home, for he was born 60 years ago in the town made famous by that song. His father was the late Mr. Robert Tomkins, a business man, who brought his family to Queensland when young Warren was seven years old. The Tomkins's lived on the south side and the boys went to the South Brisbane State School at Glenelg Street. That was the only educational equipment which the boy received until he commenced years later to study for the Anglican priesthood.

MILITARY EXPERIENCES.
Shortly after leaving school young Tomkins, whose father had died meantime, joined the Defence Force and was stationed in the barracks at Petrie Terrace. Later he was transferred to the garrison at Thursday Island and spent several years there. Such experiences unsettle many young, fellows, but the young fellow from Tipperary was built of tougher moral fibre and Rev. W.Maltland Woods, who was in charge of the Thursday Island parish, took a particular interest in him.

​SURPLICE FOR UNIFORM.
It was through the good offices of Mr. Maitland Woods that the young soldier of the King decided to enlist in the active service of the King of Kings. He resigned from the Defence Force and came to Brisbane to study for the Church. He was ordained a deacon in 1901, and to the priesthood three years later. Unlike some young men who enter the Christian ministry Mr. Tomkins did not look around for a comfortable parish in or near the metropolis, or even in the more settled country districts. He went back to North Queensland and offered his services there. Successively he served at Charters Towers, Ayr, Townsville (where he was associated with the cathedral), Innisfall, and Cairns. He also was bishop's mission chaplain In that diocese for two years. He had transferred to Oakey, when the call to service as a padre took him overseas. After the war Mr. Tomkins was respectively in charge of the parishes of Esk, Howard, and Groveley until last year when for health reasons he was appointed to Clifton. But his war time experiences had told heavily upon his constitution. and he came to Brisbane a couple of months ago for medical advice. The late Mr. Tomkins is survived by his widow, one daughter— Mrs. G. King, jun. of Maryborough— and one son-Warren, who is in the Q.N. Bank at Tingoora. The only surviving member of the older branch of the family is Mr. Robert - Tomkins, of Cracknell Road, Brisbane.
​
The Telegraph Tuesday 15 May 1934 page 17