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Son of Samuel TONKIN and Josephine nee MURRELL, Queen Street, Avenel, Victoria

Husband of Vida Muriel TONKIN nee SUTTON

DFC

'A gallant and determined officer, who, in various engagements, has destroyed two enemy aircraft and driven down seven others. During recent operations he has been conspicuous for his boldness in attacking hostile troops on the ground. On three occasions Lieutenant Tonkin has been forced to land beyond our lines. On one of these, his machine being riddled with bullets, he was taken prisoner, but was subsequently recaptured by our advancing troops.'
Source: 'Commonwealth Gazette' No. 61
Date: 23 May 1919

Lieutenant Albert Victor Tonkin was a World War I flying ace credited with six aerial victories. He worked as a grocer pre-war.

Upon enlistment in the AIF on 5 Jan 1916 he joined the No. 10 Machine Gun Company in the Australian Imperial Force and departed Melbourne on board the HMAT Ascanius Jan 1916. He was promoted to LCpl on 27 May 1916.

On 5 Dec 1916 he was transferred to the Royal Flying School where upon graduation was Commissioned as 2nd Lieut on 19 June 1917.

On 19 September 1917, he joined 1 Squadron AFC at Base Depot Aboukir for training. He then joined 67th Squad RFC on 3 November 1917 squadron as a pilot.

He flew Royal Aircraft Factory BE 2Bs against the Turks and Germans. He scored six confirmed victories, and had three unconfirmed victories on 22 July 1918, when he strafed three Albatros D.Vs he had forced to land. On 10 August, he persisted in chasing a Rumpler 50 miles (80 km) in an attempt to bring it to battle. On 13 August, engine trouble forced Tonkin and his observer to land. They were captured by local Arabs, who ransomed them back to the British for a hundred sovereigns. On 19 September, they were brought down by anti-aircraft fire and taken prisoner, only to be repatriated by rescuing cavalry.
Was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross on 2 Oct 1918 and returned to Australia on board the transport ship Pt Sydney, arriving 4 March, 1919.

Marriage reported in Adelaide News 11 May 1916:
Singer Marries Airman
Miss Vida Muriel Sutton, just returned from abroad. who appeared in many small parts with the Melba Opera Company, and whose beautiful voice has so often been enjoyed with the Royal Victorian Liedertatel, played yet another role, when she was the central figure - that of a bride. She is the only child of Mr. and Mrs. W. J. Sutton, Faversham, Williams road, Hawksburn. Victoria, and at Adam son Hall, Wesley College. became the wife of Lieut. Albert Victor Tonkin, D.F.C.. second youngest son of Mr. and Mrs. S. Tonkin, Avenel, Clarence street, Elsternwick. The Rev. E. Wye. Chaplain of Wesley College, performed the ceremony, with Mr. W. McCrindle at the organ. Mr. and Mrs. Percy Blundell sang a duet. The bride looked charming in ivory chenille georgette with a train, of beautiful Horniton lace lined with the faintest pink georgette, showing a fringe of tulle at the edge. It fell from a fringe of silver which shimmered through her tuile veil, arranged with a coronet of orange blossom. She carried a sheaf of lilies. Mrs. H. G. Howe attended her as matron of honor, wearing a powder-blue georgette frock flared with silver lace. Following her came Miss Constance Tonkin, , sister of bridegroom, in cyclamen georgette veiled with silver lace. The charming contrast was repeated in their tulle turbans, from which fell long ends caught in at the wrist with a silver band and posy. Their posies were in the same tones. Mr. Arthur Tonkin was best man. A large number of guests sat down to the wedding breakfast at the Oriental Hotel, where a miniature aeroplane floated over the wedding-cake.