[3] He was the second son of Vice Admiral Nicholas Tomlinson and his wife Elizabeth who lived in the county of Essex.

[4] Nicholas Ralph Tomlinson's military career was recorded in Hart's Military Directory and other military gazettes as follows:[5] Nicholas Tomlinson deployed with his regiment as part of Lieutenant General Sir Hugh Gough's force to subdue the Imperial Qing Chinese Forces resisting East India Company trading access to coastal China.

[11] He would fight with distinction at the following engagements:[12] Lieutenant Colonel Tomlinson was killed leading his regiment at the Battle of Chapu on 2 May 1842, specifically an attack on a fortified religious building (called a Joss House by the British), which was heavily defended by Tartar soldiers.

[13] Sir Hugh Gough wrote effusively about the bravery of Nicholas Tomlinson and that he was buried at sea.

[15] The 18th of foot would lose their commanding officer, a serjeant and three soldiers killed; and a further two officers, a serjeant, a drummer and 27 soldiers wounded - the 18th had the highest casualties of any of the regiments in action that day at Chapu.