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 |
World War 2 Service
| 3 Sep 1939: | Involvement Private, SX592 | |
|---|---|---|
| 10 Sep 1939: | Enlisted Adelaide, South Australia | |
| 20 Oct 1939: | Enlisted Australian Military Forces (Army 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
Submitted 8 August 2014 by Faithe Jones
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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