After joining the Army in 1940 during World War II, he served as a liaison officer with the Free French Forces in the Middle East.

He was captured by German Field Marshal Erwin Rommel in 1941 while making his way back to British lines from the battle of Bir Hakeim with French General Marie Pierre Kœnig.

He and Gibson escaped from the new camp, and spent 81 days walking 500 miles (800 km) south to Bari, crossing the Apennines and German lines, to return to Allied-held territory.

[4] After another period in London, he was Minister in Bonn, where he befriended Claus von Amsberg (later husband of Princess and then Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands).

Supported by British Prime Minister Edward Heath, Tomkins took a leading role in the negotiations for Britain to join the European Economic Community in 1973.

He established friendly personal and working relationships with two French presidents, Georges Pompidou and Valéry Giscard d'Estaing.

Sir Edward offered the house for sale in May 2007, four months before his death, for £3,000,000, comprising six bedroom suites, two self-contained flats and surrounded by 22 acres (8.9 ha) of land.