Philip Robert Tatham

1898 - 1976  (77 years)

• Name	Philip Robert Tatham  [1, 2, 3]
  Known as	"Bolshie"
  Birth	31 Dec 1898	Abele Grove, Epsom   [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]
  	On the 31st ult., at Abele Grove, Epsom, the wife of Edward E. Tatham, of a son. [Morning Post]
  		Abele Grove, Epsom Home of Edward Ernst Tatham & family in 1901
  Residence	Mar 1901	Abele Grove, Epsom   [2]
  Residence	Apr 1911	Parkfield, Butlers Green, Haywards Heath ; Preparatory School  [6]
  Education	Sep 1912 - Dec 1916	Winchester College   [3, 7]
  Education	1917	Wellington, Madras, India ; Indian Army Cadet College  [3, 7]
  Occupation	1918 -	Officer, 23rd Indian Cavalry  [3]
  Marriage	24 Sep 1929	India   [7, 8]
  	Mollie Janet Baines,   b. 08 Aug 1904, Srinagar, Kashmir ,   d. 27 Feb 1992, Surrey S W
  Occupation	Jun 1930	Captain, PAVO Cavalry, 11th Frontier Force  [9]
  	Mar 1935: Captain, Indian Army, wef 31 Jan 1923 [Army List].
  Occupation	1939 -	Commanding Officer, PAVO Cavalry  [10, 11]
  	In Mesopotamia & N Africa. German POW
  Post/Rank/Title	1939 -	Lieut-Colonel  [10]
  Residence	Jun 1951	Kipkabus, Kenya   [12]
  Occupation	1954 - 1976	Cowdray Park ; Polo Manager  [10]
  	BBC radio interview with 'Bolshie' Tatham from the 1970s
  Residence	1976	Orchard House, Upper Easebourne, Midhurst   [13]
  Death	05 Dec 1976	Midhurst   [5, 10]
  Probate	09 Mar 1977	Winchester ; £41,347  [13]
  	Tatham, Philip Robert of Orchard House Upper Easebourne Midhurst Sx died 5 December 1976 Probate Winchester 9 March £41347. [NPC]
  Notes	Short Half 1912: Tatham, Philip Robert (K-1916/3), b. 31 Dec, 1898, o. s. of Edward Ernst Tatham and Cicely Mary, d. of Samuel Harman Sturgis. School IV 1916; Cadet Coll., Wellington, 1917; 23rd Ca., 1918; Afghan Medal; Capt. 1923; Major 1936. Marr. 24 Sept., 1929, Millie Janet, d. of Alen Campbell Baines. Addresses: P.A.V.O. Cavalry (11th F.F.) Bolarum, Deccan; c/o Grindlay & Co, Bombay. Home address 15 Hamilton Terrace, N.W. 8. [Winchester College Register} Lieut-Colonel P. R. Tatham. Brigadier Jack Gannon writes: "Bolshie" Tatham, who died on December 5 at Midhurst, will be greatly missed not only by many polo players of present day, but also by many old soldiers and friends of the days before we left India. He was still at Winchester during the First War, but got a commission into Prince Albert Victor's Indian Army Cavalry Regiment in 1918. The PAVO had a remarkable record at polo by winning the Indian Inter-Regimental on six occasions between 1924 and 1939. He came on quickly to play at No. 1 in the victory of 1924. When the Second World War came, the regiment for a short time was occupied in Mesopotamia and then switched to North Africa, and Bolshie, commanding the regiment, was taken prisoner when it was overrun during one of Rommel's advances. He later escaped and was interned in Switzerland. In 1954 he became secretary and manager of polo to the Cowdray Park Polo Club which had been re-raised so successfully by Lord Cowdray that a regular organizer of all games was found necessary. Among his most important duties was that of arranging the times for each team entered for a tournament to play their matches. In the polo of today, there is no ordinary polo for a player as so much time is taken up with tournaments of different strength. As an example of what this meant to him, there were over 20 teams entered for this year's Holden White Cup, teams being limited to a total of eight goals, which is of course low. During this period, played during Goodwood Week and around it, there was also a tournament for teams of up to 22 goals, and the fitting in of all these matches, which also considerably involved the ponies being played, was one of Bolshie's most successful and remarkable performances. Bolshie and his wife Molly were well known and popular figures throughout the season at Cowdray Park. His control of numbers of young beginners or players was remarkable as was his control of all players which was absolutely firm, but quiet and he never lost his temper. This season was his 22nd consecutive one and he had decided to resign after it. In the final tournament, known as the Farewell Cup, after the presentation to the victorious team, Lieutenant-Colonel Tatham was presented with a handsome silver cigarette box and a handsome cheque in appreciation of his long service. [The Times] [10] Terry Hanlon, Polo Commentator: England is the best place in Europe to play, according to Terry, and the most famous ground in the whole world is Cowdray Park. Midhurst is polo. "It all started in 1975. We had a wonderful polo manager called Bolshy Tatham, an old colonel. One weekend he said: 'Where's the commentator? Hanlon, you get up here and commentate. You've always got enough to say, get up and say it. Don't argue with me, boy.' I went up and have been doing it ever since." [Sussex Life Mar 2009] Visit to Cowdray Park, the Home of British Polo. Midhurst, Sunday 13 June 2004. Polo was fantastic. Fast play by high handicap players competing for the High Goal Exhibition Match and the Tatham Cup kept everyone enthralled. [Rolls-Royce Enthusiasts Club newsletter] [many other references to the Tatham Cup] Sale of Coins, Medals & Banknotes. Bonhams, Knightsbridge. 02 Apr 2008. Auction 15783. Lot 142. Five to Lieutenant Colonel P.R.Tatham, Indian Army, British War Medal (Lieut P.R.Tatham); India General Service 1908-35, two bars, Afghanistan N.W.F. 1919 (Lt.P.R.Tatham, 23/Cavy.); Jubilee 1935; 1939-1945 Star; Africa Star. With minor assorted miniature medals, badges, Artillery pouch etc. The first three mounted as worn. Generally very fine. Note: The lot includes box for WW2 medals which further shows entitlement for the War Medal. Sold for £481 inc. premium. [Bonhams website accessed 22 May 2012]
  Person ID	I0082	Tatham | Meaburn branch | Descendant - male line
  Last Modified	29 Aug 2019

  
  

  Father	Edward Ernst Tatham,   b. 02 Apr 1866, Great Ryburgh ,   d. 22 Dec 1948, Royal Surrey County Hospital, Guildford  (Age 82 years)
  Mother	Cicely Mary Sturgis,   b. 22 Nov 1874, Kensington ,   d. 23 May 1971, Worthing  (Age 96 years)
  Marriage	28 Jan 1898	St Mary Abbots, Kensington   [3, 14, 15, 16]
  	On the 29th Jan., at S. Mary Abbot's, Kensington, by the Right Rev. the Lord Bishop of Peterborough, assisted by the Rev. Canon Pennefather (Vicar of the parish), the Rev. George E. Tatham, father of the bridegroom, and the Rev. Wm. Meaburn Tatham, brother of the bridegroom, Edward Ernst Tatham, of The Old Manor House, Carshalton, to Cicely Mary Sturgis, daughter of the late Samuel Harman Sturgis and Mrs. Sturgis, of Palace-court-mansions, W. [The Times; Morning Post]
  Association	Family: Charles Edmund Tatham / Ethel Rose Hughes (Relationship: 2 bro = 2 1x coz)
  Notes	4 serv in 1901
  Photos		Abele Grove, Epsom Home of Edward Ernst Tatham & family in 1901
  		Towerhill Manor, Gomshall Home of Edward Ernst Tatham & family in 1911
  Family ID	F0034	Family Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

  Family	Mollie Janet Baines,   b. 08 Aug 1904, Srinagar, Kashmir ,   d. 27 Feb 1992, Surrey S W  (Age 87 years)
  Marriage	24 Sep 1929	India   [7, 8]
  Children	+ 1. Elizabeth Susan Ellison Tatham,   b. 21 Jun 1930, Kashmir Nursing Home, Srinagar, Kashmir ,   d. 16 Jan 2008, England  (Age 77 years)
  Last Modified	06 Jan 2014
  Family ID	F0738	Family Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

• Sources

  [S02] BMD Index, birth reg Epsom, 1Q1899. [S01] Census, UK, 1901. age 2 b Epsom [S04] H Curtis: Notes for a Pedigree of the Tathams of Co. Durham. [S11] Newspaper, Morning Post, 03 Jan 1899. birth notice [S02] BMD Index, death reg Chichester, 4Q1976. b 31 Dec 1898 [S01] Census, UK, 1911. age 12 b Epsom [S20] School and College Registers, Winchester College. [S08] Family Trees & Websites, Hales Family. website accessed 15 Feb 2011 [S30] India Office Library, baptism reg dau Elizabeth. [S05] The Times, obituary, 16 Dec 1976. [S03] Family Members, JH. [S05] The Times, forthcoming marriages, 30 Jun 1951. dau Susan [S14] National Probate Calendar. [S02] BMD Index, marriage reg Kensington, 1Q1898. [S05] The Times, marriage notice, 01 Feb 1898. [S11] Newspaper, Standard, 03 Feb 1898.