Toke, Roundell Tristram

Person

Toke, Roundell Tristram

1869-1957

The youngest son of Rev. N. R. Toke and grandson of Rev. Nicholas Toke, of Godinton Park, Ashford, Kent. According to the London Gazette: Lieutenant Roundell Tristram Toke, 4th Battalion the Devonshire Regiment, to be second lieutenant, The Welsh Regiment, Sept. 1892; promoted lieutenant, Feb. 1897; seconded as lieutenant to the Chinese Regiment, April 1899; promoted captain while in the Chinese Regiment, Feb. 1901; promoted captain in the Welsh Regiment, June 1901; seconded as captain to the Chinese Regiment, July 1901; Captain R. T. Toke, the Welsh Regiment, to be an Assistant Military Attache, July 1904; supernumerary captain to be captain, Jan. 1906; seconded for service under the provisions of Army Order 191/1904, May 1906; supernumerary captain to be captain, Aug. 1908; promoted major, March 1910. During this period Toke had served in the Boxer Rebellion with the Chinese Regiment, including at the "Relief of Peking", 1900, and had been attached to the Japanese Army during the Russo-Japanese War of 1904-1905, for which he was twice decorated by the Japanese. He spoke fluent Japanese and was said to be known as 'Tokyo Toke' by his fellow officers and friends. By 1915 he was o/c A Coy, 1st Welsh Regiment, taking command of the Battalion, 14 May 1915. He appears to have been in command of the Brigade (the 84th), 2-14 June. Promoted from major to temporary lieutenant-colonel, 14 June 1915. Appointed to command 6th Service Battalion the Bedfordshire Regiment as temporary lieutenant-colonel, 23 Aug. 1915. "Major (Bt. Lt.-Col.) R. T. Toke (Welsh-R.)" appointed to the Labour Corps, and to be acting lieutenant-colonel while commanding a Group, May 1918. Corrected to "Temp. Lt.-Col. R. T. Toke (Maj. (Bt. Lt.-Col.), Welsh R.)", June 1918. Relinquished rank of temporary lieutenant-colonel on ceasing to be employed with the Corps, Aug. 1919. Married Olive M. Hamilton at Cranbrook, Kent, 1922. Died at Cranehurst, Cranbrook, 23 Nov. 1957, and buried at Cranbrook Church, 27 Nov. 1957.

London Gazette; Times Digital Archive; FreeBMD.