TUNKS, Leslie Dagworth
| Service Number: | 879 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | Not yet discovered |
| Last Rank: | Trooper |
| Last Unit: | New South Wales Lancers |
| Born: | Parramatta, New South Wales, Australia, 28 September 1874 |
| Home Town: | Parramatta, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Not yet discovered |
| Died: | Enteric Fever, Kroonstadt, South Africa, 2 June 1900, aged 25 years |
| Cemetery: |
Kroonstad Old Cemetery, Free State, South Africa Died in No 3 General Hospital, Kroonstad. |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Parramatta Boer War Memorial, Sydney New South Wales Lands Department Boer War Honour Roll |
Boer War Service
| 1 Oct 1899: | Involvement Australian and Colonial Military Forces - Boer War Contingents, Trooper, 879 | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Oct 1899: | Involvement Trooper, 879, New South Wales Lancers |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Elizabeth Allen
Leslie Dagworth TUNKS was born in 1874 in Parramatta, Sydney, NSW
His parents were George Henry TUNKS and Henrietta Evalina BARNETT
He was a Trooper with the NSW Lancers, (First Contingent) who served in the Boer War
Contingent left for South Africa on 9th October 1899 on the ship Nineveh
Leslie died in Kroonstadt Hospital on 2nd June 1900 of Enteric Fever
Burial place unknown
He is memoralized on the Boer War Memorial in Parramatta
"VICTIMS TO ENTERIC. TROOPER L. D. TUNKS.
Trooper Leslie Dagworth Tunks (No. 879), whose death from enteric, fever at Kroonstad was announced on Wednesday, was a member of the Parramatta No. 1, or "old," Half-squadron of the N.S.W. Regiment of Lancers, with his comrades in which he was very popular for his good fellowship and readiness to oblige. On the other hand, the officers of the half-squadron, speaking more of him as a unit amongst the men of the regiment, give Trooper Tunks a high character for his efficiency and smartness on parade, and his willingness to always undertake any duty, no matter how irksome, that would better qualify him to rank as a first-class soldier. Of a high, ardent temperament, Trooper Tunks was one of the most enthusiastic members of the regiment, and when it was rumored that another party of Lancers other than those who left England under Captain Cox were likely to have a chance to be dispatched to the Boer war the name of Trooper Tunks was the first of the Parramatta Half to be handed in at the regimental headquarters as a volunteer for active service in South Africa. The deceased trooper was a son of Mr. George Tunks, of Ross-street, Parramatta, and was a native of the town, in which he has a large number of relatives. Formerly Trooper Tunks was employed for about nine years in the Post and Telegraph Office at Parramatta, but latterly had occupied a position in the Justice Department, Sydney. Though his position was a good one, Tunks, who was only 25 years old, resigned it to join the detachment of Lancers which went to South Africa under Major Lee, and sailed in the steamer Kent on October 28, 1899. The de- ceased was a prominent district sportsman, and was very well-known in football circles." - from the Sydney Evening News 12 Jun 1900 (nla.gov.au)
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