Identity area
Reference code
Title
Date(s)
- 1915 (Creation)
Level of description
File
Extent and medium
2 volumes, 1 envelope.
Context area
Name of creator
Biographical history
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.
Archival history
Immediate source of acquisition or transfer
Purchased by NLW at Forum Auctions, London, 30 May 2019, lot 303.
Content and structure area
Scope and content
Two copies of a diary kept by Major, later Colonel, Roundell Tristram Toke of the 1st Battalion the Welsh Regiment.
Blue notebook, entitled 'Diary kept during war, 1915. 1916', containing a narrative account of the Battalion's departure from Agra, India, and redeployment in France as part of the 84th Brigade of the 28th Division, 15 Nov. 1914-11 Jan. 1915. Daily entries for most days, 12 Jan.-31 Dec. 1915, including longer entries on 18-22 Feb. (Château Rosenthal, later 'Bedford House'), 8 May (the first day of the Battle of Frezenberg) and 24-25 May (Battle of Bellewaarde). (1 volume; 102 pp. of text).
Black notebook, entitled 'Diary of the war, 1st Welsh Regiment, January to August 1915, by Major R. T. Toke, A Company', containing a narrative account for 15 Nov.-18 Jan., and daily entries for most days, 19 Jan.-23 Aug. 1915, when Toke was appointed to command the 6th Service Battalion the Bedfordshire Regiment. The black notebook appears to be an edited version of the blue notebook, frequently with fuller daily entries. The text is on one side of each opening, with the facing page containing occasional notes, maps and plans. Also an original signal during the Battle of Bellewaarde that "The attack will be renewed at 12.30am without fail and pushed right through with the bayonet till our old line of trenches is regained", 25 May. (1 volume; 1 cm. of text).
Loose enclosures, including trench maps (Wulverghem, Feb.-March 1915, and Kemmel-Wytschaete, 4 July 1915), lists of officers wounded and killed, newspaper cuttings, and letters from Cyril Lomax ('Sandy') relating to his intended regimental history, 1922. (1 envelope; 1 cm.).
Appraisal, destruction and scheduling
All items have been retained.
Accruals
Accruals are not expected.
System of arrangement
Conditions of access and use area
Conditions governing access
Conditions governing reproduction
Language of material
Script of material
Language and script notes
Physical characteristics and technical requirements
Finding aids
Allied materials area
Existence and location of originals
Existence and location of copies
Related units of description
Notes area
Note
The Welsh Regiment was created in 1881 under the Childers Reforms by the amalgamation of the 41st (Welch) Regiment of Foot and 69th (South Lincolnshire) Regiment of Foot. In 1920 the regiment was renamed the Welch Regiment. In 1969 the regiment was amalgamated with the South Wales Borderers to form the Royal Regiment of Wales.