Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Thomas Arthur Tonkes enlisted for war in Oaklands, South Australia, at the age of 33 years and 1 month. The reasoning for Tonkes’ wanting to go to war is not established, although, like most men volunteering to fight in the world war, he was very likely to have volunteer due to needing regular pay, wanted to do his duty for the British Empire, or sought the adventure and escape of his regular life.  Like everyone who fought in WW1, Tonkes volunteered.

Early in the war, the newly formed Australian Imperial Force (AIF) had highs standards for the soldiers who got enlisted, taking the fittest of the volunteers. Anyone who had a medical or physical issue, was not in the age limit of between 18-45, had poor eyesight, criminal records, or dental issues was rejected from becoming part of the AIF. Roughly 1/3 of men who enlisted were rejected in the first year of the war. Later on, as the war continued, the restrictions for acceptance were broadened, accepting almost anyone who volunteered. Tonkes was one of the men who got accepted as the first wave of soldiers.

Thomas joined the unit from reinforcements  and became part of the 10th Battalion, which was recruited from South Australia and Broken Hill New South Wales just a few weeks after the war commenced. The battalion combined with the 9th, 11th, and 12th Battalions, forming the 3rd Brigade in the 1st division. The First AIF units were uniquely identified by colour patches. The patches' forms and colour schemes were connected with the AIF's organisation . Its rectangle form designates it as a First Division unit. 

Thomas was a private, the lowest rank in the army. His responsibilities in the war were likely to include combat roles such as taking part in trench warfare, participating in direct battle, and following orders from higher-ranking officials. He would also be responsible for carrying out tactical decisions made by sergeants and officers. Additionally, his daily duties likely involved tasks such as trench digging, equipment maintenance, and supply transportation. The Western Front was located in France and Belgium.

The 10th Battalion first came together at Morphettville Racecourse and there underwent all of their initial training. After further training in Cairo, the battalion went to Gallipoli, a peninsula in Turkey, and between  4:30am-4:45am on 25 April 1915 they commenced the now famoud landing.  Gallipoli is said to have been one of the worst fronts in the first world war, due to the ground conditions, fly swarms, limited water, unappetising food, scorching heat, rotting corpses, and lice infestation.  These horrid conditions resulted in Thomas going sick to hospital on 26/6/15. He then went to another hospital on 30 June 1915 for influenza and was later discharged to base on 9 July 1915. It is assumed that after his discharge he went back to Gallipoli, where his Battalion was based at the time.

On 15 August 1915, Thomas was admitted as a casualty at the station at ANZAC and transferred to Mudros due to tonsillitis. That same day, they were sent to No.2 Field Ambulance and then to the Beach Dressing Station, before moving to the Clearing Station. The Beach Dressing Station was as a medical facility that offered emergency medical care to injured soldiers. A clearing station was a small hospital that was typically situated close to an important hub for communications. He was admitted to No.25 Casualty Clearing Station for tonsillitis and later transferred to the Hospital Ship 'Scotian'. On 24 August 1915, he admitted to No.3 Auxiliary Convalescent Depot. The following day, 25 August 1915, Tonkes was admitted to No.1 Australian General Hospital in Heliopolis (Cairo, Egypt) for tonsillitis and then transferred to No.1 Auxiliary Hospital. He was finally discharged on 11/9/15.

On 4/11/15, Thomas was tried by Field General Court Martial for being absent without leave and drunkenness. He was then found guilty and sentenced to prison for 91 days with hard labour and forfeiture of 170 days’ pay and a 1-pound fine. During his punishment, his Battalion’s withdrawal from Gallipoli on 21 November 1915, which was part of the draw down prior to the main evacuation on 19 December 1915. In February in 1916, Thomas was sentences again for 3 months imprisonment with hard labour, fined 1 pound and did not receive pay for 60 days.

After the withdrawal the 10th Battalion returned to Egypt, arriving on 26 February 1916. On this same day the battalion like others was split equaly to form the 50th battalion, becoming part of the 4th division. The 10th and 50th battalions were now made up of Gallipoli veterans and  raw Australian reinforcements. The majority of the men in the 50th were from South Australia and Broken Hill which was consistent with the composition of the original 10th. The 50th Battalion, named "Hurcombe's Hungry Half Hundred" after its initial CO, Lieutenant Colonel Frederick Hurcombe, formerly second in command of the 10th Battalion joined the 4th Australian Division's 13th Brigade. It was likely that Thomas Arthur did not return to Egypt with his Battalion, due to imprisonment.

Tonkes returned from England around the same time his battalion was preparing for action in France. He was discharged to base on 28 July 1916. Later, on 31 May 1917, Tonkes was found guilty of being absent without leave, and on 2 June 1917, he received a punishment of 14 days of Field Punishment No.2.

On June 28, 1917, he was transferred from the 10th Battalion to be taken on strength for the 1st Anzac Corps School. This school trained soldiers in battlefield skills like tactics, leadership, and technical operations, preparing them for modern warfare.

In 1917 Tonkes, along with his battalion, returned to Belgium in 1917 and took part in a large British offensive of that year, called the Third Battle of Ypres. This battle took place between July and November of 1917. The allies in the battle aimed to break through the German defence by conquering the high ground around Passchendaele and make an easier breakthrough into Flanders. The 10th battalion fought in the Battle of Menin Road on September 20, 1917, which was part of the Third Battle of Ypres. The Australians advanced the front line to the edge of Polygon Wood.

The Battalion looked after prisoners and assisted in the Battle of Broodseinde Ridge on October 4 before relieving the 1st Brigade on October 5, 1917. One significant "mystery" of the war was the massive casualties inflicted by a large patrol near Celtic Wood on October 9. The ‘Raid on Celtic Wood’, written by Robert Kearney in 2017, goes into depth about this incident. In-between the period where the Battalion looked after prisoners, Tonkes was found to be absent without leave and received 7 days of Field Punishment No.2  on 7 October 1917 along with forfeiting 2 days pay under Regulations for Warfare. In early November of 1917, Thomas re-joined the unit from sick leave in France and was further taken on strength of Australian Employment company from 10th Infantry Battalion a couple weeks later.

On February 13, 1918, Thomas was admitted to the 1st Auxiliary Hospital due to gout, a condition causing painful inflammation in the joints. Just two days later, on February 15, he was transferred to the 1st Australian Dermatologist Hospital No. 20, likely for specialized treatment. By May 9, 1918, he was admitted to Sutton Veny Military Hospital for epididymitis, an inflammation of the tube at the back of the testicle. Later that month, on May 27, he was discharged from the 1st Casualty Depot, suffering from orchitis and left-sided epididymitis, conditions related to inflammation in the reproductive organs. After his discharge, it is unclear if he participated ion later operations with his Battalion.  

His battalion continued to take part of battles, and fought in the Battle of Amiens, this battle lasted from May to June in 1918. This battle was a part of the Hundred Days Offensive, a larger Allied counteroffensive that sought to drive back German forces and bring an end to World War I. The 10th Battalions participation was crucial in the success of the offensive.

In late September 1918, the 10th Battalion participated in the Hindenburg Line attacks and then withdrew on October 5 to rest close to Epehy. It had suffered 1,010 fatalities by Armistice Day and won multiple honours, including three VCs.

Being an ANZAC is being a person that embodies toughness, inventiveness, and loyalty. During the Gallipoli Campaign, the Anzac soldiers were characterised by distinct traits and were admired for their bravery and humour. Although, often, the Anzac’s would display undisciplined behaviour behind the lines, which showed that they had both a lack of courtesy and irreverence but also displayed resilience. Thomas demonstrated the ANZAC spirit through his commitment to helping others. He served the country in the war for all 4 years and pushed through his diseases and illnesses to keep fighting and proudly representing his country. 

Bibliography

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·       IWM. “9 Reasons Why Gallipoli Was One of the Worst Fighting Fronts of the First World War.” Imperial War Museums, 2023, www.iwm.org.uk/history/9-reasons-why-gallipoli-was-one-of-the-worst-fighting-fronts-of-the-first-world-war#:~:text=The%20hot%20climate%2C%20putrefying%20bodies. Accessed 16 Sep. 2024