William Hugh Tomasson
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Sir William Hugh Tomasson KBE MVO KPM (1858 – 12 October 1922) was chief constable of Nottinghamshire County Constabulary, later known as the Nottinghamshire Police.[1] He served in that position from 1 December 1892, until his death whilst still in office, on 12 October 1922.
Personal life
[edit]Tomasson was born in Barnby Moor, Bassetlaw, Nottinghamshire, and was educated at Clifton College.
Between 1882 and 1887 he resided at Grove House in Brunt Street, Mansfield, Nottinghamshire.[2]
In 1898 he moved to Woodthorpe House, Woodthorpe Grange Park, Woodthorpe, Nottinghamshire, where his family resided until 1930.[1][3]
For 22 years Tomasson was Honorary Secretary of the Nottinghamshire County Cricket Club, and on retiring received a testimonial, £564 being presented.
Military service
[edit]He fought in the campaign against the Pedi people in Transvaal Colony in 1878.
During the Anglo-Zulu War he joined the Cape Mounted Riflemen in the fight against chief Cetshwayo. He was also a captain in the Baker's horse, a section of the Frontier Light Horse.[4][5][6] He was in this unit with Price Louis Napoleon, heir to Napoleon Bonaparte, who was attached there as an observer.[7]
Police career
[edit]Tomasson joined Nottinghamshire County Constabulary in 1880, being posted as a Superintendent in Mansfield. On the death of the former Chief Constable Henry Holden. Tomasson took over as chief constable of the force on 8 July 1856. He only finished this role on his death whilst still in office on 12 October 1922.[8]
During his service, he was appointed a member (4th class) of the Royal Victorian Order in 1906.[5] This is potentially as a result of his oversight of a Royal Visit to Worksop in 1905.
During the First World War he undertook special duties, including the overseeing of the guarding of National Shell Filling Factory, Chilwell.
His abilities in his role were recognised by being appointed Police Inspector for the Northern district of England.
He was made Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in the 1918 New Years Honours List, and knighted in the 1920 list for "Services in Connection with the War".
References
[edit]- ^ a b Smart, Andy (9 July 2010). "Much more than just a house: Sherwood Community Centre celebrates its 60th anniversary with an open day on Sunday - but its address goes back much further than that". Nottingham Evening Post. Retrieved 2024-09-22 – via ProQuest.
- ^ University of Nottingham, East Midland Special Collections Archive, Pl E12/6/19/40/1-6 'Bundle of papers relating to a lease of Grove House in Brunt Street, Mansfield, Nottinghamshire, from the 6th Duke of Portland to William H. Tomasson; 1882-1887'
- ^ "Sherwood Historial Timeline". www.woodthorpefriends.co.uk. Retrieved 2024-07-29.
- ^ "Anglo-Boer War | Unit Information | Baker's Horse". angloboerwar.com. Retrieved 2024-07-29.
- ^ a b "Chancery of the Royal Victorian Order". The London Gazette. 1906-10-23. p. 7108. Retrieved 2024-07-29.
- ^ Tomasson, William H (2012). With the Irregulars in the Transvaal and Zululand: The Experiences of an Officer of Baker*s Horse in the Kaffir and Zulu Wars 1878-79. Leonaur. ISBN 978-0857067982.
- ^ "Tomasson and Dymond family". www.brierleyyorkshireengland.net. Retrieved 2024-07-29.
- ^ Stallion M, Wall DS (2012). The British Police: Forces and their Chief Officers 1829-2012 (2nd ed.). Hook, Hampshire: The Police History Society.