David Toombs was born on 6 December 1886 in Bethnal Green, Middlesex (now Greater London), a son of George Toombs (1850-1912) and Emily Toombs (1851-1921). His birth was registered as David George Toombs in the 1st quarter of 1887 in the Bethnal Green Registration District, Middlesex (now Greater London). On 28 January 1888 he was baptised as David George Toombs in St Peter's Church, Bethnal Green, where in the baptismal register his date of birth was confirmed, that his family were shown to be living at 33 Weymouth Terrace, Bethnal Green and that his father was a wheelwright.
In all subsequent records he seems to have dropped the use of George as a second forename and is only recorded as David Toombs
He was shown in the census that was undertaken on 5 April 1891 as aged 5 years, and living in four rooms within 27 Weymouth Terrace, Bethnal Green, with his parents and three siblings: George Toombs, aged 17 years; Linie Toombs, aged 10 years and a scholar and Emily Toombs, aged 4 years. His father continued to be listed as a wheelwright.
He continued to be listed as David Toombs, aged 14 years and a wheelwright when the census was compiled on 31 March 1901 and was residing in three rooms within 27 Weymouth Terrace, with his parents together with two sisters: Emily Toombs, aged 13 years and Rose Toombs, aged 9 years. His father was still recorded as a wheelwright.
On 3 November 1902 he enlisted in the Royal Navy as a Boy 2nd Class, service number Ch/223548 and was promoted to Boy 1st Class on 12 August 1903. On 6 December 1904, his 18th birthday, he signed on as an Ordinary Seaman for 12 years service and was promoted to Able Seaman on 2 July 1906. When the census that was gathered on 2 April 1911 he was described as aged 24 years and an Able Seaman serving aboard HMS Bulwark, a 1st Class Battleship, that was stationed at Sheerness, Kent. His parents and his sister, Emily Toombs, were recorded at 57 Weymouth Terrace, Bethnal Green. He continued to serve in the Royal Navy during World War One and was awarded the 1914 Star, the British War Medal 1914-1918 and the Victory Medal. Leaving active service, he joined the Royal Fleet Reserve on 1 April 1920.
When he completed his census return form on 19 June 1921 he described himself as a single man, aged 34 years, 6 months and a dock labourer employed by the Port of London Authority working in the London Docks. He was living in two rooms within 29 Weymouth Terrace, Bethnal Green, with his widowed mother, aged 70 years, 2 months and his sister Emily Toombs, aged 33 years, 6 months, who was employed on home duties.
Electoral registers from 1920 to 1939 list him at 29 Weymouth Terrace, Bethnal Green and he was still residing there when he was killed by a German bomb that was dropped on the Columbia Market air raid shelter on the night of 7th/8th September 1940. His death was registered, aged 53 years, in the 3rd quarter of 1940 in the Bethnal Green Registration District and his on 19 September 1940 in the , Sebert Road, London, E7 0NP.
He is shown as 'TOOMBS David 53' on the Columbia Market air raid shelter memorial in the Rose Garden, Old Market Square, Ravenscroft Park, London, E2.
He is also commemorated on the , on the and in that is kept just outside the entrance to St George's Chapel at the west end of Westminster Abbey.
Credit for this entry to: Andrew Behan.
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