TONKIN, Oliver
| Service Number: | 12729 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 19 November 1915 |
| Last Rank: | Gunner |
| Last Unit: | 1st Field Artillery Brigade |
| Born: | Bondi, New South Wales, Australia, 18 March 1897 |
| Home Town: | Leichhardt, Leichhardt, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | Petersham Public School, Sydney Technical High School |
| Occupation: | Clerk |
| Died: | Mosman, New South Wales, Australia, 26 August 1974, aged 77 years, cause of death not yet discovered |
| Cemetery: | Not yet discovered |
| Memorials: | Sydney Technical High School WW1 Roll Of Honour |
World War 1 Service
| 19 Nov 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Gunner, 12729, 1st Field Artillery Brigade | |
|---|---|---|
| 9 Apr 1916: | Involvement Gunner, 12729, 1st Field Artillery Brigade, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '3' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: HMAT Nestor embarkation_ship_number: A71 public_note: '' | |
| 9 Apr 1916: | Embarked Gunner, 12729, 1st Field Artillery Brigade, HMAT Nestor, Sydney |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Faithe Jones
Son of Ernest G and Miriam TONKIN, 405 New Canterbury Raod, Dulwich Hill, NSW
Biography contributed by Sydney Technical High School
Oliver Tonkin was born on 18 March 1897 in Bondi, New South Wales. He attended Petersham Public School and later Sydney Technical High School, where he completed his early education during a period shaped by economic uncertainty and the developing identity of the new Australian nation. Like many boys of his generation, he entered the workforce young, employed as a Clerk. On 19 November 1915, at just 18 years old, Tonkin enlisted for overseas service.
Tonkin embarked from Sydney aboard HMAT Nestor on 9 April 1916 with the 1st Field Artillery Brigade. He trained and served as a gunner, a role that required physically demanding labour involving ammunition handling, gun maintenance, and coordinated firing under direction from artillery officers. Tonkin first served in the Middle East and was hospitalised with an infection for several weeks. Once he recovered in November 1916 he embarked to England, he and found life in the AIF difficult, with several instances of being absent without leave and he was hospitalised again for nearly two weeks in Feburary. He proceeded to France in April 1917 and marched out to the 2nd Ammunition Sub Park 26th April.
In October 1917 Tonkin was granted two weeks leave and travelled to the UK. He rejoined his unit 27th October. A month later he developed tonsilitis and was sent to hospital in Boulogne followed by a couple of weeks at a convalescence depot. He marched out and joined the 2nd Australian Divisional Ammunition Column (DAC) where he remained for the rest of the war.
He took more leave in November 1918 and travelled to the UK, he rejoined the DAC in France 29th November 1918. His tonsilitis flared again in January 1919 and he was treated by 32nd Stationary Hospital and diagnosed with influenza. He was transferred to hospital in England. Once he was well, he was granted furlough.
Tonkin returned to Australia 5th April 1919 on board the ship Armagh.
He married Veronica Gertrude Rees (1899-1971) and had one child, Douglas Oliver (1921-2002). The family lived in Ashfield West during the 1930's. Oliver Tonkin lived in Mosman during his later years and died there on 26 August 1974 at the age of 77. His name appears on the Sydney Technical High School Honour Roll, preserving his place among the former students and teachers who served during the First World War.
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