DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.65479#0072
The body of Lionel Robert Tollemache was brought back to England
and buried at Helmingham in the same vault in which the body of General
Tollemache (who fell at the siege of Brest) had been laid a century before.
In 18io a fine monument by Nollekens was erected to his memory in the
chancel of Helmingham Church, with the following inscription:
“ This Monument was erected to the Memory of Lionel Robert
Tollemache Esq: Who lies buried in the Vault beneath.
“He was the only Son of the Honourable Captain John Tollemache
of the Royal Navy and Lady Bridget Henley, Daughter of the Earl of
N orthington.
“His Course was short, but it was brilliant, for at the Age of
Eighteen he Died nobly fighting for his King and Country. He was an
Ensign in the First Regiment of Foot Guards, and was killed at the
Siege of Valenciennes in July, 1793, by the bursting of a Bomb thrown
from the Garrison.
“ His Death was the more unfortunate, as he was the only British
Officer killed on that occasion.
“He was a loss to his Country, for he was a Youth of uncommon
Promise: but to his Family his loss was irreparable.
“The Father and two Uncles of this valiant Youth, like himself,
lost their Lives in the Service of their Country. His Uncle, the Honble
George Tollemache was killed by falling from the mast-head of the
‘ Modeste’ Man of war at Sea: His Father, the HonbIe John Tollemache
was killed in a Duel at New York: And another of his Uncles, the Honble
William Tollemache was lost in the ‘ Repulse ’ Frigate in a Hurricane in
the Atlantic Ocean.
“So many Instances of Disaster are rarely to be met with in the
same Family.
“ Thus fell the young, the worthy, and the brave!
With Emulation view his honoured Grave!”
Lionel Robert Tollemache’s family received many letters from his
friends in the regiment, and the Duke of York wrote himself to express
his regret at the loss of a young officer whom he had considered likely to
distinguish himself. An additional grief to his family was that the young
man was engaged to be married to his cousin Maria, the daughter of his
aunt, Lady Louisa Manners. All the letters he had received from her
were found in his pocket after his death, and were sent to her by the
96
and buried at Helmingham in the same vault in which the body of General
Tollemache (who fell at the siege of Brest) had been laid a century before.
In 18io a fine monument by Nollekens was erected to his memory in the
chancel of Helmingham Church, with the following inscription:
“ This Monument was erected to the Memory of Lionel Robert
Tollemache Esq: Who lies buried in the Vault beneath.
“He was the only Son of the Honourable Captain John Tollemache
of the Royal Navy and Lady Bridget Henley, Daughter of the Earl of
N orthington.
“His Course was short, but it was brilliant, for at the Age of
Eighteen he Died nobly fighting for his King and Country. He was an
Ensign in the First Regiment of Foot Guards, and was killed at the
Siege of Valenciennes in July, 1793, by the bursting of a Bomb thrown
from the Garrison.
“ His Death was the more unfortunate, as he was the only British
Officer killed on that occasion.
“He was a loss to his Country, for he was a Youth of uncommon
Promise: but to his Family his loss was irreparable.
“The Father and two Uncles of this valiant Youth, like himself,
lost their Lives in the Service of their Country. His Uncle, the Honble
George Tollemache was killed by falling from the mast-head of the
‘ Modeste’ Man of war at Sea: His Father, the HonbIe John Tollemache
was killed in a Duel at New York: And another of his Uncles, the Honble
William Tollemache was lost in the ‘ Repulse ’ Frigate in a Hurricane in
the Atlantic Ocean.
“So many Instances of Disaster are rarely to be met with in the
same Family.
“ Thus fell the young, the worthy, and the brave!
With Emulation view his honoured Grave!”
Lionel Robert Tollemache’s family received many letters from his
friends in the regiment, and the Duke of York wrote himself to express
his regret at the loss of a young officer whom he had considered likely to
distinguish himself. An additional grief to his family was that the young
man was engaged to be married to his cousin Maria, the daughter of his
aunt, Lady Louisa Manners. All the letters he had received from her
were found in his pocket after his death, and were sent to her by the
96