Eric Erskine Campbell Tufnell (1888-1978)

Eric Tufnell was born in Bangalore, India, where his father, Major Robert Hutchison Campbell Tufnell (1852-1908), who fought in the Afghan wars was stationed. The family were sufficiently important to have their history recorded in Burke's Genealogical and Heraldic History of the Landed Gentry. His mother, May Anne Luard Tufnell (neé Smith), was born in Madras, the youngest daughter of Judge Alexander Smith. By the time of the 1901 Census the family had returned to England and were living at Lackham House, Spring Grove, in Isleworth, which was built around 1860 by Eric's grandfather, Thomas Robert Tufnell (1822-98), the Chairman of the Royal Mail Line Steam Packet Company. Eric's future was settled for him in 1903 when at the age of fifteen he became a cadet at HMS Britannia. He "gained 7 1/2 months time on passing out of Britannia" and in September 1904 joined the twin screw battleship, HMS Albion. He was appointed Midshipman.All mi