Ernest William Tomkins

Submitted by Mt Kembla Minin... on Sat, 25/11/2017 - 16:02

First Name:

Ernest

Middle Name:

William

Last Name:

Tomkins

Mother's Name:

Annie Tomkins nee Shepherdson

Father's Name:

Henry Tomkins

Date Enlisted:

Monday, December 13, 1915

Rank at Enlistment:

Private

Rank at Discharge:

Private

Unit:

19th Battalion

Company:

Service:

Infantry

Awards:

British War Medal

Victory Medal

Date of Death:

Saturday, July 5, 1947

Place of Death:

Sydney

Details:

Ernest Tomkins (Service No 4545) was born in Wollongong, N.S.W. in 1900.

At enlistment Ernest falsely claimed to be 18 years of age; he was single and worked as a Tramway fitter with the Tramways Department; he also stated 4 years service with the Cadets.

Ernest embarked from Sydney on board HMAT A71 Nestor with 19th Battalion, 11th Reinforcement on 9th April 1916. He arrived in England on 7th June 1916 and joined B Company in the field on 26th September 1916.

Ernest saw service on the Western Front until 4th November 1916 when he was wounded in action. He was evacuated to hospital in England for treatment of a gun shot wound to his right leg.

In May 1917 Ernest was invalided to Australia due to his being underage. He was finally discharged, medically unfit, on 14th August 1917.

In 1923 Ernest married Mary Graves and the couple raised one daughter.

Ernest died in Sydney in 1947.

Sources:

NAA: B2455, TOMKINS ERNEST WILLIAM