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Friday 5th October 2018 Issue No.9
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Whippingham war hero remembered
Priory School children with head of history Dr. Thompson and relatives Dr. Peter Tolman Warren CBE, Mrs Ann Tolman Cook As the 100th anniversary of the end of WWI approaches, Wight Aviation Museum has traced the story of one of the Island’s little known aviation heroes. The museum has discovered the untold history of an Isle of Wight Observer Aviator and Gunner who was lost in action, 100 years ago. Lt. Clifford John Tolman of the No.22 Squadron Royal Flying Corps (RFC), a gallant and fearless young officer from Whippingham, was lost in action on the Western Front on September 27, 1918. A memorial service for Lt. Tolman was held at St Mildred’s, Whippingham, on September 27 this year. With family members,
the Royal British Legion, representatives from the Royal Air Force Association, members of the museum, and Priory School in attendance. The service was conducted by the Rev Susan Paterson of St Mildred’s and Rev Tony Richards the Royal British Legion Padre, assisted by Parade Marshall Terry Clarkson and his Standard Bearers. This history of Lt. Tolman came out of the blue to his nephew Dr Peter Tolman Warren CBE and niece Ann Tolman Cook, who expressed their appreciation to the museum for taking the initiative to uncover and share their uncle’s sacrifice
and this important part of the Island’s aviation history. Born in Dorset on November 5, 1896 - Lt. Tolman served as a Gunner in the Royal Field Artillery, Hampshire Yeomanry Regiment No1351 from the age of 18 from 1914 to 1917. He was awarded the Military Medal for an act of bravery in the field and devotion to duty whilst under fire. Doubtless this was why he transferred to the RFC in March 1918 and was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant on 18 May 1918 and appointed as an Observer Officer on June 4. He was soon in action on the Western Front with his first recorded German Pfalz
D111 destroyed just south of Lille on July 10 flying with Lt Stanton with whom he flew with until the end of August that year. His record shows he was a WW1 ACE having destroyed a total of eight enemy aircraft. Lt. Tolman was only 21 on that fateful day when he flew with Flight Commander Captain Samuel Fredrick Thompson in a Bristol F2b Fighter - it was to a be a trip they would never return from. The British pair were shot down in the line of duty by Oberleutnant Otto Schmidt of Jasta 5 of the Imperial German Army. Having no known grave, they are commemorated at
the Arras Flying Services Memorial along with 1000 others who lost their lives in WW1 on the Western Front. The Tolman/Grace family worshipped at St Mildred’s, Whippingham and the names of Clifford Tolman and his step-brother Joseph Grace are on a Roll of Honour inside the church and also inscribed on a stone on the outside wall. Their names continue to be read out every Remembrance Sunday to this day. In the near future the Wight Aviation Museum will open to the public a full display on the illustrious history of Lt. Tolman and other island aviation heroes.
Christ the King College ‘inadequate’ Christ the King College has been rated as “inadequate” following an Ofsted inspection in late June. Ofsted released the report on Thursday (October 4), stating the overall effectiveness of the institution was inadequate. Effectiveness of leadership and management was also rated inadequate, as was the personal development, behaviour and welfare of pupils. Whereas the quality of teaching and assessment, outcomes for pupils and 16 to 19 study programmes all required improvement according to the government regulator. The report claimed some pupils reported experiences of “racist bullying” or “casual racism”, and others said that the term “gay” was used frequently as a term of abuse. The school was previously rated as “good” by Ofsted and Councillor Chris Whitehouse (Con, Newport West) believes the new rating is due to “unbelievably bad” timing and called the results “unfortunate”. Cllr Whitehouse, the local Isle of Wight Council member for the college said: “The recent results of Christ the King at both GCSE and A-Level show that it remains one of the best schools on the Island. “The previous Principal, who provided strong and visible leadership, had just left; and, with the best will in the world, the new leader, could not be expected to be across all the detail within just a couple of weeks of taking up position.”
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