Basil was born on 18 March 1910 at 24a Union Street, Ryde, Isle of Wight, to Arthur Henry TOMASIN and Ann Elizabeth PURCHES.
He was educated at St George's School - run by the MIsses Holmes in Star Street, Ryde - where he excelled in most sports. After leaving school he went to sea as a steward serving at first on the SS Empress of Britain, and later on the SS Montcalm and the SS Duchess of Bedford.
He married Dorothy Annie BULL-WILLIAMS on 28 March 1931 at The Isle of Wight Registry Office. They had two children in 1942 and 1944.
They set up home at 7 Milligan Road, Ryde, Isle of Wight and he 'came ashore' to work as a milk rounds man for Thomas' Diary in Melville Street, Ryde. In about 1935, he joined the GPO Telephones as a 'wire man'.
During World War 2 Basil was 'deemed to have been enlisted' into the General Service Corps - Territorial Army, and posted to the Royal Signals Corps' as Signalman No 14786670 Royal Corps Signals (Wireman GPO Telephones). By the mid-50's Basil had become a GPO Survey Officer responsible for, among other things the 'land line' link to the mainland for early BBC TV outside broadcasts.
During his time with the GPO Basil was an active member of his trade union - The Post Office Engineering Union - serving as both Secretary and chairman of his local branch. Basil's leisure time in his earlier years was spent dancing and performing amateur dramatics. Later he became a member of Ryde Conservative Club and a Freemason.
Basil and Dorothy were divorced in 1967.
On 14 February 1968 he was living at Flat 2, Lindfield, St James Street, Ryde, Isle of Wight
Basil married Francis LINTERN between January and March 1968.
In January 1971 they were living at 16 Grange Avenue, Pell Estate, Ryde and Basil was still employed as GPO Telephone Engineer
Basil died on 12 January 1971 at St. Mary's Hospital, Newport, Isle of Wight of Hepatic failure and Acute Hepatitis after a short illness.
