TONKIN, John James
| Service Number: | 945 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 13 February 1915, Enlisted at Keswick, SA |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 48th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Wokurna via Port Broughton, South Australia, Australia, 9 March 1896 |
| Home Town: | Murray Bridge, Murray Bridge, South Australia |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Farmer |
| Died: | Pneumonia, Belgium, 29 December 1918, aged 22 years |
| Cemetery: |
Charleroi Communal Cemetery Row Q, Grave 11 Headstone inscription reads: Loved by all who knew him, Charleroi Communal Cemetery, Charleroi, Wallonie, Belgium |
| Memorials: | Adelaide National War Memorial, Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Murray Bridge Roll of Honour WW1, Port Broughton War Memorial |
World War 1 Service
| 13 Feb 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 945, 27th Infantry Battalion, Enlisted at Keswick, SA | |
|---|---|---|
| 31 May 1915: | Involvement Private, 945, 27th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '15' embarkation_place: Adelaide embarkation_ship: HMAT Geelong embarkation_ship_number: A2 public_note: '' | |
| 31 May 1915: | Embarked Private, 945, 27th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Geelong, Adelaide | |
| 5 Aug 1916: | Wounded AIF WW1, Private, 945, Gunshot wound to the head | |
| 22 Oct 1916: | Transferred AIF WW1, Private, 48th Infantry Battalion, Transferred from the 27th Battalion to the 48th Battalion in the field | |
| 29 Dec 1918: | Involvement Private, 945, 48th Infantry Battalion, --- :awm_ww1_roll_of_honour_import: awm_service_number: 945 awm_unit: 48 Battalion awm_rank: Private awm_died_date: 1918-12-29 |
Help us honour John James Tonkin's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by Carol Foster
Son of John Henry Tonkins and Christina (nee Fletcher) Tonkin of 'Long Flat', Murray Bridge, SA; brother of Leonard Tonkin, Clara Elsie Tonkin, Flora Jean Tonkin, Mary Fenella Tonkin, Christina May Tonkin, Archibald William Henry Tonkin, Elizabeth Jane Tonkin, Vernon Grant Tonkin, Dorothy Ellen Tonkin and Frank Redvers Tonkin
Medals: 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal
Biography contributed by tony griffin
John James Tonkin was the son of John Henry and Christina (nee Fletcher) Tonkin of Port Broughton. John Henry Tonkin had taken up land at Wokurna when the land was thrown open for selection and had farmed there for most of his life. Christina was living at “Long Flat” Murray Bridge when John enlisted and died only ten days after he sailed for the front.
18 year old John was appointed 27 Battalion and embarked from Adelaide aboard embarked HMAT A2 “Geelong” on 31 May 1915. John served with 27 Battalion at Gallipoli from 18 August 1915 until the battalion withdrew to Egypt. In France, on 4/5 August 1916 27 Battalion attacked and captured two lines of German trenches at Bapaume. John was one of the 289 other ranks wounded in this action. With a gunshot wound to his head he was admitted to hospital in Rouen. On recovery John was transferred to 48 Battalion. On 4 December 1917 John was granted leave to England but while on leave took ill and did not return to France until 8 May 1918. The war was over when John was admitted to 12 Australian Field Ambulance in Belgium on 28 December 1918. Dangerously ill he was admitted to 55 Casualty Clearing Station but sadly died of pneumonia the following day.
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