LEST WE FORGET
Lieutenant Henry Alfred Charles TONKS
Service No: 6386
Born: Burrumbuttock NSW, January 1896
Enlisted in the Army: 10 July 1915
Unit: 46th Squadron, Royal Flying Corps, based at Bruay, France
Died: Air Operations, Belgium, 21 June 1917, Aged 21 Years
Buried: New British Cemetery, Harlebeke, Flanders, Belgium
CWGC Additional Information: No additional information
Place of Association: Elsternwick VIC
Remembered: Panel 188, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT
On 21 June 1917, Lieutenant Tonks was killed on air operations over the Battle Front. A copy of the 46th Squadron Record Book records Lieutenant Tonks missing in Sopwith Scout aircraft 1709 on 21 June 1917 after he had taken off at 0905 hours on an operational sortie and was last seen over the lines chasing an enemy aircraft.
References:
Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour On-Line Records
Commonwealth War Graves Commission On-Line Records
National Archives of Australia On-Line Record B2455, TONKS HENRY ALFRED CHARLES
National Archives UK RAF Casualty Book AIR 1/968 page 52, 285956