200156 John Eliot TONKIN, MC, MiD, Royal Northumberland Fusiliers & 1 SAS

Discussion in 'Special Forces' started by dbf, Mar 30, 2020.

  1. dbf

    dbf Moderatrix MOD

    Personal Number: 200156
    Rank: Lieutenant
    Name: John Eliot TONKIN, MiD
    Unit: 1 Special Air Service


    London Gazette : 19 August 1941
    https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/35250/supplement/4798/data.pdf
    The undermentioned Cadets to be 2nd Lts. 2nd Aug. 1941: —
    R. North'd Fus.
    John Eliot TONKIN (200156).

    London Gazette : 15 September 1944
    https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/36700/supplement/4256/data.pdf
    S.A.S.R.
    The undermentioned War Subs. Lts. to be Subs. Lts., retaining their present seniority:—
    From R. North'd Fus., 1st Apr. 1944:—
    J. E. Tonkin (200156).

    London Gazette : 22 March 1945
    https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/36994/supplement/1571/data.pdf
    https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/36994/supplement/1572/data.pdf
    The KING has been graciously pleased to approve that the following be Mentioned in recognition of gallant and distinguished services in the field: —
    Army Air Corps.
    Maj. (temp.) J. E. Tonkin, M.C. (200156).

    London Gazette : 17 July 1953
    https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/39914/supplement/3926/data.pdf
    The QUEEN has been graciously pleased to approve the following awards of the Polar Medal in Silver to members of the Falkland Islands Dependencies Survey, for good services in Antarctic expeditions between the years 1944-1950:—
    Polar Medal
    John Eliot TONKIN, Navigator, Marguerite Bay, 1946-1947.
     
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  2. dbf

    dbf Moderatrix MOD

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    dbf Moderatrix MOD

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  5. Steve Mac

    Steve Mac Very Senior Member

    There is no mention of Major JE Tonkin in the index of the regimental history 'The History Of the Royal Northumberland Fusiliers in the Second World War' (Barclay), but he is mentioned in the appendices as a recipient of the MC.

    Other information found follows:

    1. Special Forces RoH, that includes a service history and photograph: SAS Tonkin, John Elliott

    2. An obituary, that focuses on his Antarctic expedition and details some of his qualities: https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/S0032247400027753

    3. An audio memoire, about the SAS. The first section of circa 15 minutes is about Paddy Mayne, with the second section being John Tonkin telling the story of his escape in Italy in October 1943: BBC Two - SAS: Rogue Warriors, Series 1, Episode 3, We hear SAS man John Tonkin's audio memoires for the first time
     
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