Corporal William Corbett Tomkins – My great papa

My time with the Argylls Museum started in June 2022. Aspiring to develop my museum career, I had always had an interest in military history – particularly the World Wars – which was fostered by my undergraduate studies and my dissertation which focused on censorship during the Great War and, dare I say it here, the Black Watch.

I genuinely enjoy my job, the people I get to help and the research I get to conduct. I was also excited to get to speak and teach about my own local history being from Falkirk – The Argylls were given the Freedom of Falkirk in 1972 and it was a popular recruitment area. Whilst I have members of my family in the Royal Air Force, no one currently serves in the Army. And when it comes to conscription during war time periods, I thought my family had all been Black Watch, until only a few weeks ago.

Corporal William Corbett Tomkins was born 23^rd July 1914 in Fort William, and whilst we can’t be sure why, he made his way to Dundee in his adult years. A painter by trade, he enlisted to serve on the 16^th May 1940 – and this is where I believe the family whispers must have began. Living in Dundee, my family has always assumed he had been with the Black Watch. The tartans the Argylls and The Black Watch do look similar to those who don’t know the difference.

Whilst my granny had been clearing out, she gave me a pile of papers, “in case this was any use to your work”. In this pile was my great grandfather’s release book and several telegrams confirming that he was part of The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders. My granny was an only child, my mum didn’t remember much of her papa due to him passing away whilst she was young. Not uncommon, William didn’t speak of his time in service.

So, I got to researching and my hope here is that if you wish to research anyone, from any regiment, during this period that the steps I took will help.

1. What could William’s papers tell me?

First, I had a look at what information the papers could give me. I could gather his full government name, his regiment, his rank. The letters detailed that William had been injured whilst serving in the Middle East having been shot in the left thigh on April 6^th 1943. Another letter states he was released from hospital in June 6^th 1943. His release papers stated his service number and when he was officially released from the army.

These also contained his service number, and this made my research much easier. If you can obtain a service number, from medals, service papers, pension books, it is always recommended – especially if they have a common surname. This meant I was able to do an Ancestry search for William.

2. Making use of online records (there is often a charge or subscription for this)

From the results, I don’t believe his service papers have seem digitised. I could request these from the National Archives (or the MoD if these haven’t been passed over) but I know World War Two documents are in the process of being digitised uploaded. If you do carry out this step, please note, waiting times can be over a year.  However, I found his Prisoner of War Questionnaire.

The questionnaire confirmed several things, the places he believes he was prisoner, his home address (which was only 3 minutes away from the address I stayed at during my time at university) and his trade before service. Most emotionally provoking, especially to my mum and granny, I found William’s signature on the bottom of this.

My next step was the British Newspaper Archive. Now I knew a date he was captured, and where he lived, I could look for local newspaper announcements of his capture. I found two separate entries of the same article in the Dundee Courier (from 18^th August 1943) and the Evening Telegraph (15^th September 1943). This detailed that my great granny, Agnes Aitken Tomkins (nee Mann) had been informed of his capture.

3. The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders Museum archive

The next step, I took liberty with my position in the museum, and had a look in the archives to see if I could work out what battle he had been injured at and what happened on the day he was captured. Archives used include the 7^th Battalion dairies, officers diaries and maps.

Throughout my research, I believe my great papa’s story went has follows:

1940 – Marries Agnes Aitken Mann and shortly after he leaves his occupation as a painter to join the 7^th Battalion, part of the 51^st Highland Division on 16^th May 1940.

1941 – Becomes a Corporal in May 1941

1942 – William is sent overseas for service

1943- Injured at The Battle of Wadi Akrait (Tunisia Campaign) on 6 April  having been shot in the left thigh. He is discharged from hospital on  June 8^th. He is then taken Prisoner of War at The Battle of Gerbini (Sicily Campaign) on the 20^th July. Due to being captured, it is believed he was part of A company. Shortly after being captured, Italy capitulates and William is moved to camps in Austria for the rest of the war.

He is then taken Prisoner of War at The Battle of Gerbini (Sicily Campaign) on the 20^th July. Due to being captured, it is believed he was part of A company.

1945 – Liberated from being a prisoner of war and makes his way back to the UK where he serves with M&T Camp (possibly a Prisoner of War camp in the UK). He officially leaves his service on 15^th January 1946 after being discharged at Belhus Park. He is noted to be a “trustworthy and hardworking N.C.O, who is sensible and practical”. (Image of this can be seen above).

After returning to his trade and becoming a father in 1947, William Corbett Tomkins died suddenly in 1976 aged only 61. Although it can never be determined, it is likely his time as a prisoner of war contributed to this.

I still cannot believe it, after four years here, the (probably) several hundreds of people I have helped research their Argyll relatives, that I had more of a connection than just the area I was raised. And being able to show my family my findings, especially my gran who knew so little of her dad’s service, has been a career highlight.

Museum research enquiries are closed until October 2026. After this date, the museum team will be able to carry out similar enquires, such as mine, for an Argyll relative you have.

Written by Caitlin Meldrum, Audience and Communications Officer