Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Menpes, known as Menp and later as ‘Tonk’ was born in Ardrossan on the Yorke Peninsula on the 22nd September 1912 to John Henry and Florence McDonald Tonkin. Menp was the youngest son of eleven children with siblings including Leland Charles, Francis Harcourt (Frank), Prudence Muriel, Margaret Euphemia (Margery), Joyce Everilda Isabel, Lionel Henry, Alison Antoinette Pengilly and Margaret June.
The family lived at several locations, including Taldra in the Murray Mallee region, then Hope Farm in the South-East before moving to live in Robe.
Menp was just two when his oldest brother, 18-year-old Leland enlisted in June ‘15 to serve in WWI with the 27th Battalion. On the death of his Sergeant in April 16th Leland was immediately promoted to this role. In August ’16 he was wounded in action in France with a gunshot wound to his left shoulder following a raid on enemy trenches. Back home this was ambitiously reported that he was ‘suffering from a slight wound but doing well.’ Following treatment in England Leland returned to his battalion but was again wounded in March the following year with bomb wounds to his legs. His right leg was shattered, and gas gangrene set in. He was listed as being dangerously ill resulting in the amputation of his right leg in March ’16. Whilst Leland returned to Australia on August 23rd, 1917, he was diagnosed with deferred shell-shock, (cruelly called ‘mental derangement’). Less than four months later, aged 21 he died of pneumonia, in the Keswick Military Hospital on the 11th December 1917 with his mother, Florence by his side. He was interred in the Payneham Cemetery with military honours.
The family moved to Robe in the South East in 1927, living in historic Karatta House (once the residence of Governor Sir James Ferguson) which they ran as a guest house once it was restored to its previous glory. This then became renown for hosting many community events and private functions.
Post school, Menp became a painter. In July ’37 he announced his engagement to Gwendoline Violet Johns from Tailem Bend in July ’37. However, the eruption of WWII meant that their wedding plans were delayed.
At the time, fit, single young men from country regions were encouraged to volunteer. Robe was one area that was targeted with Captain Harrington in the first week managing to attract 23 young men. Aged 27, Menp followed in the footsteps of his oldest brother, Leland and enlisted to serve his country on the 6th July 1940 and was allocated the number SX8163. At the time Menp enlisted, several of his friends did similarly with many being placed in the 2/48th Battalion with him. These included SX8148 Wilf Backler, SX8147 Peter (Herbert) Banks, SX7494 Steve Hayes, SX8370 Ted Martin, SX7690 Fred Serle, SX7689 Jack Wakeman and SX7688 William Westland. Not all returned home. (William Westland was killed in action on the 1st May, ’41 soon after the group arrived in the Middle East.) Many of these young men were influenced by Jack Wakeman, a competent horseman, and squadron Sergeant Major of the local 3rd Light Horse Regiment. Almost half of that troop enlisted for service.
The men’s initial days were spent in the cold of the Pavilions, now part of the Royal Adelaide Showgrounds where their ‘beds’ were straw filled hessian on wooden pallets. The new enlistees then headed to Woodside for preliminary training. Early in July ‘40, a social was arranged back home by the local Patriotic Council with games and competitions, including a Ladies vs Gents question bee, convincingly won by the ladies. At that time a war savings group had been formed with children encouraged to subscribe to War Saving Certificates, a move that had already raised £2,000. The young students were also energetically supporting an appeal for clothing for refugee children, scrap metal, waste-paper, and knitting articles for the Red Cross.
At the start of November, the local enlistees returned home on pre-embarkation leave and to be honoured with the Robe Hall filled to capacity for a farewell social to the men of the 2/48th. As they approached the stage, the men were given a rousing reception as they were individually introduced and praised in honor of ‘those who were prepared to risk their all for their King and country.’ Parcels were handed to the soldiers from the local Patriotic Council and C.W.A. Knitting Circle, with the best wishes of all for a speedy victory and safe return. Private Wilf Backler on behalf of the men, in response paid a high tribute to the work of women folk in the war. The singing "For They Are Jolly Good Fellows" was followed by Supper and dancing interspersed with items and community singing. Finally, "Auld Lang Syne" and the National Anthem brought the function to conclusion.
The battalion finally boarded the Stratheden for the Middle East, in November, arriving on the 17th December, then marched to a Staging Camp. During those early days, besides regular army duties was the need to quickly adapt to the locals and local conditions. Having been used to the fresh food and country lifestyle on the coast, Menp’s early times in the Middle East were marred by on-going stomach issues, followed by diphtheria and time in hospital. He was promoted to Acting Corporal in June ’41. Unfortunately, by early ’42 Menp contracted acute tonsillitis but survived that year to return home via Melbourne in February ’43.
Back home on leave, Menp first acted as best man for Wilf Backler when he married Dorris Dawson on the 6th March. The newlyweds enjoyed their reception at the Tonkin’s home, Karatta house. Prior to the wedding Memp’s mother had given a kitchen evening for Dorris, who was a Robe local. Soon after, Menp married Gwendoline Violet Johns (Gwen) on the 22nd March ’43 in the Congregational Church at Victor Harbor in an afternoon ceremony.
Training In Queensland followed as the battalion prepared to face a very different enemy in the tropical conditions of New Guinea. Menp arrived at Milne Bay in August ’43 and within three months was promoted to Lance Corporal. In December that year, Menp’s youngest sister, 23-year-old Margaret enlisted just after Christmas, serving as 111654 an aircraftwoman. She served for three years before being discharged in June ’46.
Unfortunately, ill health in the form of an extremely high temperature (called pyrexia of unknown origin, PUO) occurred in February ’44. Whilst Menp then returned to Australia, he was affected by malaria. This usually affects the liver, but he then contracted a particularly challenging form followed, called Splenomegaly malaria, which affects the spleen. A high fever followed (PUO). By October Menp was promoted to Corporal and the following year in April returned to Morotai for his final service posting in Tarakan. With the war concluding, Menp finally returned to Australia via Sydney in September ’45. He was finally discharged on the 4th October.
Gwen and Menp had two daughters, Sandra and Kay. Their home at Victor Harbour was later to be the scene of both Sandra’s and Kay’s 21st birthday celebrations in ’68 and ’71 respectively.
Menp’s 73-year-old mother died on the 18th September ’49 and was interred in the Payneham Cemetery with her first born son, Leland. Menp’s father lived to be 91 and died at Robe in October ’61.
Aged 74 Menp died on the 21st August 1987. He was buried in the local Victor Cemetery. Gwen lived to be 85 and died on the 25th October 2000. She now rests with ‘Tonk’.
Written and researched by Kaye Lee, daughter of Bryan Holmes SX8133, 2/48th Battalion.