S19758
TONKIN, James
| Service Number: | 820 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | Not yet discovered |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 10th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Cowflat, NSW, date not yet discovered |
| Home Town: | Not yet discovered |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Electricity and Steam engineer |
| Memorials: | Broken Hill Barrier District Roll of Honour |
World War 1 Service
| 20 Oct 1914: | Involvement Private, 820, 10th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '10' embarkation_place: Adelaide embarkation_ship: HMAT Ascanius embarkation_ship_number: A11 public_note: '' | |
|---|---|---|
| 20 Oct 1914: | Embarked Private, 820, 10th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Ascanius, Adelaide | |
| 11 Nov 1918: | Involvement 820, 10th Infantry Battalion |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by St Ignatius' College
James Tonkin’s Biography
James Tonkin (service number: 820), was an individual whose life journey reflects the spirit of an era marked by industrial change and global conflict. Born as a natural-born British subject and with his religion being Methodist, he found his home in Cowflat in New South Wales, Australia. By the time war broke out, James was 35 years old, with a steady career as an electricity and steam engineer. This occupation likely shaped him into a man of precision and discipline, qualities that would serve him well in the trying years ahead.
Before the war, James was not just a professional; he was also a devoted family man. Married to Martha, the couple had three children: William, Minnie, and Ruby. His son William, then 14 years old, while Minnie was still in her childhood at seven. Ruby, the youngest, had an uncertain age, perhaps too young for even the records to capture precisely. The family lived on Henley Beach Road, a detail that speaks to their ties to the local community. James’ decision to enlist in the war must have been a heavy one, weighed down by the knowledge that he was leaving behind a wife and three young children who depended on him.
Life in Service
Tonkin Joined on 29th August 1914 at Morphettville, South Australia, just as the war was starting, James decided to enlist in the A.I.F. (Australian Imperial Force). This was not his first military experience; he had served for three years with the Kennedy Regiment, a testament to his sense of duty and patriotism. This proved that he was full of the ANZAC spirit (endurance, courage, ingenuity, good humour, and mateship). His decision to re-join the military might have been driven by a complex mix of loyalty to the British Empire, a desire to protect his family, and a sense of adventure or duty. Regardless of his reasons, he left behind his family and the peaceful life he had known to face the uncertainty and horrors of war. Not knowing what was waiting in Gallipoli upon him.
James was assigned to the 10th Infantry Battalion A.I.F. (Australian Imperial Force), where he quickly found himself part of the Machine Gun Section—a role that required both skill and courage. His time on the Western Front, particularly at Gallipoli, was marked by harsh conditions and brutal combat. He was wounded in the hand, a wound that would trouble him long after it had healed. Even though Tonkin had been injured in the hand due to bomb artilleries on the 28th of June 1915, he still continued on and did pieces of training on the baseline, instead of real trench warfare. His resilience and determination pushed him forward even as malaria and influenza struck him down multiple times.
James was promoted through the ranks throughout his service, he was promoted to various ranks including Lance Corporal, Corporal, and Temporary Staff Sergeant Major. His promotions reflected his capabilities and the trust his superiors placed in him. But the war took its toll. His experience in the A.I.F. made him travel to many places overseas, such as Moascar, Cairo, and Ghezireh. Most importantly he marched out to Port Said for embarkation overseas to England, embarked at Port Said per H.T. on the boat “Bohemian” for England. Transportation was not commonly used, forcing them to march many kilometres without stopping. After enduring the physical and emotional strain of combat, as well as recurring illnesses, James was finally discharged due to "Flat Feet." On the 21st of April 1918. This condition, probably worsened by the relentless marching from and to camps and standing required of a soldier, forced him to return home.
After the War
After the war, when James returned to Australia, he was not the same man who had left. The experiences of war had changed him, as they did for so many others. He was awarded the 1914/15 Star, the British War Medal, and the Victory Medal—a testament to his bravery and service. But what mattered most was that he had survived and returned to his family. The story of James Tonkin is one of quiet heroism. He answered the call of duty, exemplifying the ANZAC spirit with endurance, courage, and comradeship. His legacy is found in the family he returned to and the nation he defended.