John Tombs

Who was John Tombs?

John Tombs was a military commander of the British East India Company and Major-General in the Indian Army.

John Tombs was son of a banker, Joseph Tombs, of Abingdon. Graduating from Abingdon School, John Tombs entered service with the East India Company. He commanded the 3rd Bengal Cavalry at the siege of Bharatpur and was promoted Major-General in 1838. He retired from the Indian Army to Malta where he died. He sent his six sons home to Abingdon for an English education, the most distinguished of them being the sixth son, Major-General Sir Henry Tombs, VC, KCB.