TONKINS, Stanley Macquarie
| Service Number: | 1841 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 1 February 1915, Liverpool, New South Wales |
| Last Rank: | Lance Corporal |
| Last Unit: | 2nd Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Wauchope, New South Wales, Australia, 20 September 1895 |
| Home Town: | Port Macquarie, Port Macquarie-Hastings, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | Post Macquarie Public School |
| Occupation: | Motor driver |
| Died: | Killed in Action, France, 9 April 1917, aged 21 years |
| Cemetery: |
Hermies British Cemetery |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Port Macquarie Cenotaph |
World War 1 Service
| 1 Feb 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 1841, 2nd Infantry Battalion, Liverpool, New South Wales | |
|---|---|---|
| 10 Apr 1915: | Embarked AIF WW1, Private, 1841, 2nd Infantry Battalion, HMAT Argyllshire, Sydney | |
| 10 Apr 1915: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 1841, 2nd Infantry Battalion, Enlistment/Embarkation WW1, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '7' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: HMAT Argyllshire embarkation_ship_number: A8 public_note: '' | |
| 26 May 1915: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 1841, 2nd Infantry Battalion, ANZAC / Gallipoli | |
| 10 Aug 1915: | Wounded The August Offensive - Lone Pine, Suvla Bay, Sari Bair, The Nek and Hill 60 - Gallipoli, Shell wound (right eye and leg) | |
| 2 Aug 1916: | Promoted AIF WW1, Lance Corporal, 2nd Infantry Battalion | |
| 9 Apr 1917: | Involvement AIF WW1, Lance Corporal, 1841, 2nd Infantry Battalion |
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Stanley Macquarie TONKINS was born in 1895 in Wauchope, New South Wales to Frederick Thomas TONKINS and Maria Ayling HICKS
He enlisted on 1st February 1915 with the 2nd Battalion, and they embarked from Sydney on HMAT Argyllshire on 10th April, 1915
Stanley was killed in action on 9th April, 1917 and is buried in Hermies British Cemetery Row B grave 13, France
He was awarded the British War Medal & Victory medal
"Corporal Stanley M. Tonkin.
Another of Port Macquarie's representatives at front has been officially reported as killed in action in France on April 9th, in the person of Corporal Stanley Macquarie Tonkin, fourth son of the late Mr. F. Tonkin, and Mrs. J. Guthrie, of this town. Deceased was born at East Kempsey, Macleay River, 24½ years ago, but removed to Port Macquarie with his parents when a child, and the remainder of his life was spent here. On leaving school he was engaged at odd jobs about the town, among which was occasional work in the "News" office. He finally settled down to the business of motor car driving, which he left to enlist. He joined the Expeditionary Force 2½ years ago, and was in the second contingent that landed at Gallipoli. He went through the severe fighting at the Dardanelles, and was later transferred to the western front. He did not escape from his campaigning unscathed, being twice wounded and twice in hospital with rheumatic fever. He made a good recovery from all his ailments, and returned to the firing line in France, where he met his death as stated. He saw hard service, and has now joined our fast thinning band of heroes. He was a fine steady young man of amiable disposition, and thoughtful for his mother. In a recent letter Sergeant R. K. Pountney, who has met very few of his townsmen in France, stated that he had lately spent a 10 days' furlough in London. While strolling casually along one of the streets of that city of many millions, he ran against Corporal Tonkin. The two lads from far away little Port Macquarie had a heart-to-heart talk of the old town and its people. It appears to be very rare for "townies" to meet at the front. We join in the sympathy that will be felt for Mrs. Guthrie in the loss of one who has proved himself a good son and a gallant soldier." - from the Port Macquarie News and Hastings River Advocate 28 Apr 1917 (nla.gov.au)
From the same newspaper as above and dated 26th August 1916;
"Mrs. J. Guthrie has received a cable dated from London from her son Private Stanley M Tonkins as follows;
"Am quite well, been in battle, Some of our boys wounded and missing - Love ...."
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