2nd Lieutenant Henry John Hermon TOLCHER
5th (Reserve) Battalion Worcestershire Regiment and Royal Horse Artillery

Date of birth: 10th September 1897
Date of death: 28th June 1978

Survived aged 80
Buried at Waitakere Cemetery, Henderson New Zealand
Henry John Hermon Tolcher was born at "Harewood", Plymton in South Devon on the 10th of September 1897 the only son of Major Edward Henry Archer Tolcher JP, 4th Battalion South Wales Borderers, and Clare Hermon (nee Palmer) Tolcher of "Harewood", Plymton.

He was educated at Hazelwood School from 1909 to July 1911 where he was a member of the Football XI in 1909 and 1910 and of the Cricket XI in 1910 and 1911. The school magazine wrote the following of his 1909 football season: - "(Outside left) - Should be of great service next season, but has much to learn; must throw more "vim" into his attack; very prone at present to backward passing, and neglect of his inside partner."

Of his 1910 football season they wrote: - "(Outside left) - A vastly improved forward; has still a good deal to learn in the art of manipulating the ball, but his passes from the line have gained much in power and accuracy."

They wrote the following of his 1910 cricket season: - "May next season develop a propensity for long scores, but as yet his defence is far from impenetrable, whilst his fielding leaves something to be desired."

Of his 1911 cricket season they wrote: - "Escaped his own notice becoming a useful change bowler; improved field, but still afraid of the ball; made a few runs West Country style."

On leaving the school the magazine wrote of him: - "A thorough sportsman and good fellow. Cricket and Football XI's. Came to us rather late, but made a most creditable use of his time in every way."

He went on to Wellington College from September 1911 where he was in Upcott’s House until the 4th of August 1914. He served as a Private in the Officer Training Corps from January 1912 until he resigned on the 13th of May 1914.

On leaving school he applied for a place at the Royal Military College Sandhurst on the 10th of September 1914 and underwent a medical examination in London on the 26th of September where it was recorded that he was five feet eight and a half inches tall and that he weighed 143lbs. He passed 108th in the examinations for the College the following month. On the 20th of March 1915 he expressed a preference for a commission in the Devonshire Regiment but was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the Worcestershire Regiment on the 17th of April 1915 and was posted to the 5th Battalion of his regiment.

He was criticised for his conduct with the battalion and his superiors recommended that he be asked to resign his commission as they considered him to be unsuitable to be an officer.

Letter dated the 5th of April 1916: -

Sir, With reference to your communication of the 22nd ultimo, No. C.R.S.C. 106774 (s) regarding the case of 2nd Lieutenant H.J.H. Tolcher, Worcestershire Regiment, I am commanded by the Army Council to inform you that in view of this officer’s irregularities of conduct it has been decided that he is to be called upon to resign his commission. I am to request that he be so informed and that his application to resign be forwarded to this office as soon as it is received by you. I am, Sir, your obedient servant B.B. Cubitt


His mother wrote an appeal to the War Office on her son's behalf in a letter dated the 25th of April 1916: -

"I am writing to ask for your kindness and clemency in the case of my son, Sec Lieut. Tolcher 5th Worcestershire Regt. who has been asked to resign his commission in His Majesty's Army. He received his commission from Sandhurst in April 1915 at the age of 17 - I know his reports from May to October were not good but I am afraid he did not realise at the time how serious his conduct was. From October 20th to March 20th 1916 he was at home very ill with blood poisoning. He had been ill with it some months previous to getting sick leave. He was told later if he did not get sick leave he would be reported on each month as to his conduct, As it was he couldn't return to his Regt. till the following March. Since his return I understand his conduct has been good. I am asking you to give him one more chance to retrieve his character by letting him stay on, on probation. I am sure he will do well now. He has made up his mind to do this when he returned in March and this has come as a great shock to him as it has to me. A Colonel in another Regt. who knows him well, has offered to take him if he is allowed to stay on. If he had been able to return to his Regt. in October and had done well, I don't think anything would been said, but the confidential reports were called for while he was away ill. I can only plead a mother's grief as an excuse for writing as my son's whole life depends on your reply." Your obedient servant Clare H. Tolcher

Her appeal was rejected on the 30th of April 1916 and he resigned his commission with effect from the 21st of May 1916. He re-enlisted as Gunner 140180 in the Royal Horse Artillery and served the remainder of the war in the Mess at Woolwich until he was demobilised on the 17th of June 1919.

He was married to Sibyl Edith (nee Lloyd-Carson) on the 12th of November 1919 at All Saints Church, Leamington and lived at Harewood, Plympton St Mary in Devon. They had one son Christopher Peter, born in 1921, who died in 1932.

He moved to New Zealand where he arrived at Wellington on board the SS "Maloja" on the 28th of August 1925. He worked as a labourer and steward. A warrant for his arrest was issued on the 24th of November 1928 for obtaining cash by the writing of a valueless cheque for £10 on the Bank of New South Wales. He failed to appear on summons. He was arrested and was convicted on a charge of false pretences at Hastings, New Zealand on the 6th of February 1929 and was sentenced to one year's probation. He was arrested at Hastings, New Zealand for a breach of probation. He had assumed the name Henry John Tollemache and had left Wellington for Australia on board the SS "Maunganuia on the 15th of March 1929. He was sentenced to one month in jail at Wellington Magistrates Court on the 23rd of July 1929 and was released from prison on the 22nd of August 1929. On the 13th of December 1929 a warrant was issued for his arrest at Wellington for the theft of fifteen shillings and sixpence from the Alsatian Shepard Dog Club where he was Secretary of the club. He had received the money from George Edwin Lee on terms which required him to account for it to the club which he failed to do. He was tried at Wellington Magistrates Court on the 1st of April 1931 on a charge of theft and was sentenced to a term of three months in Wikaito prison. He was released on the 30th of June 1931.

He was married for a second time on the 21st of January 1937 at Auckland New Zealand to Florence Annie (nee Millett); they had one child, John Hermon.

He died at Auckland.
Went on to Wellington College

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