Donald Edward TONKIN

TONKIN, Donald Edward

Service Number: SX592
Enlisted: 10 September 1939, Adelaide, South Australia
Last Rank: Private
Last Unit: 2nd/43rd Infantry Battalion
Born: Adelaide, South Australia, 14 July 1920
Home Town: Plympton South, City of West Torrens, South Australia
Schooling: Nailsworth Public School, Adelaide High School
Occupation: Farm Assistant
Died: Killed in Action, El Alamein, Egypt, 17 July 1942, aged 22 years
Cemetery: El Alamein War Cemetery
A II. H. 14, El Alamein War Cemetery, El Alamein, Marsa Matruh, Egypt
Memorials: Adelaide WW2 Wall of Remembrance, Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour
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World War 2 Service

3 Sep 1939: Involvement Private, SX592
10 Sep 1939: Enlisted Adelaide, South Australia
20 Oct 1939: Enlisted Australian Military Forces (WW2) , Private, SX592
20 Oct 1939: Involvement Private, SX592, 2nd/43rd Infantry Battalion
20 Oct 1939: Enlisted Adelaide, SA
5 Apr 1941: Involvement Signaller, SX592, "Operation Lustre" Greece 1941
7 Jun 1941: Involvement Signaller, SX592, Syria - Operation Exporter
1 Jul 1942: Involvement Private, SX592, 2nd/43rd Infantry Battalion, El Alamein

Biography

Born 14 July 1920 at Adelaide, SA
Son of James Hurtle TONKIN and Annie Florence nee SAUNDERS
Resided Plymtpn, SA
Took interest in sport, fond of football, shooting and riding.
Enlisted September 1939 at aged 19 years
Served in 1st Australian Signals in Grecian and Syrian Campaigns.
Transferred to 43rd Battalion
Killed in action aged 22 years

Record was submitted to book by Edith Preston, A.W.A.S. Prospect

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Biography

Donald Edward TONKIN Born 14 July 1920 in Adelaide, SA, the son of James Hurtle TONKIN and Annie Florence (nee SAUNDERS).

The family resided in Plymtpn, SA

Donald took an interest in sport; he was fond of football, shooting and riding.

When war broke out he enlisted in September 1939 at aged 19 years.

After initial training he was allocated to signals and in that capacity he served in 1st Australian Signals in Grecian and Syrian Campaigns.

Later, he transferred to the 2nd/43rd Battalion, which had earlier been raised in Woodside South Australia and was largely comprised of South Australians. 

The 2nd/43rd Battalion was part of the 9th Division which remained in North Africa after the 6th and 7th Divisions had been returned to Australia.

The 2nd/43rd was engaged in the El Alamein campaign and like he rest of the 9th Division, suffered heavily.  Donald Tonkin was among the casualties, being killed in action just three days after his 22nd birthday, aged 22 years.

 

Record was submitted to book by Edith Preston, A.W.A.S. Prospect

 

Faithe Jones August 2014

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