[2] He went to university at Trinity College, Cambridge, where he rowed and attended the Officer Training Corps in his spare time.

[3] Tisdall joined the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve when he was 24 years old, at the outbreak of the First World War.

[3] He enlisted as an Able Seaman at HMS President, the home of the London Division of the Royal Naval Reserve, but was soon promoted to Sub Lieutenant.

[2] They made five trips from the ship to the shore and were responsible for rescuing several wounded men under heavy and accurate fire, until darkness forced them to stop.

[2][4] He was mortally wounded by a sniper during the Second Battle of Krithia at Achi Baba on 6 May 1915, and was buried where he fell, but today has no known grave.