Born in England, Immigrated to Canada and served in WW1
Robert's family comes form a long line of Manchester working class people. The Tomkinson's are many in the area and it was difficult to garner infomration passed Robert's great grandfather David Tomkinson, that name David, was used frequently withing that family group. Robert was born in 19whatver Gorton Manchester to David and Sarah Tomkinson.
Robert Tomkinson was a soldier of the Canadian Expeditionary Force during the First World War and a member of the famed 143rd Battalion, better known as the “B.C. Bantams.” He was among thousands of British immigrants who left England in search of opportunity in Canada and ultimately answered the call to serve during one of the most devastating conflicts in modern history. Born in England in the late nineteenth century, Robert emigrated to Canada as a young man during a period when many working-class English families sought new lives across the Atlantic. Settling in British Columbia, he became part of the growing communities that helped build western Canada before the outbreak of the Great War in 1914. When war erupted, Robert enlisted in the Canadian Expeditionary Force (CEF), joining the 143rd Battalion (British Columbia Bantams). The Bantam battalions were unique formations created to recruit men who fell below the standard military height requirement of 5 feet 4 inches. Though smaller in stature, these men quickly earned a reputation for determination, toughness, and courage. The B.C. Bantams were raised in Victoria, British Columbia, and trained at Beacon Hill Park and Sidney Camp before departing overseas in 1917. Like many reinforcement battalions of the Canadian Expeditionary Force, the 143rd Battalion was eventually absorbed into reserve and railway units after arriving in England. Many of its soldiers were reassigned to front-line infantry battalions or Canadian Railway Troops serving in France and Belgium. Despite the battalion never fighting as a complete unit, the men of the B.C. Bantams contributed significantly to the Canadian war effort on the Western Front. Robert Tomkinson belonged to a generation profoundly shaped by war, migration, and sacrifice. As both an English immigrant and Canadian soldier, his life reflects the close ties between Britain and Canada during the First World War. Men like Robert crossed oceans twice in their lifetimes — first in search of a better future, and later in service to the Empire during wartime. The Canadian Expeditionary Force ultimately mobilized more than 600,000 men during the war, becoming internationally respected for its battlefield effectiveness and endurance under brutal conditions in France and Flanders. Today, Robert Tomkinson is remembered not only as a veteran of the Great War, but also as part of the enduring story of immigration, service, and family history that connects England, Canada, and later generations descended from those who served.
Robert's story is one of hard work, immigration, servatude and galantry. I will share more pictures and war material on this page.