Ernest Samuel Tonks
Service Number
R/8580
Military Unit
10th Bn King's Royal Rifle Corps
Date of birth
26 Jun 1897
Date of Death
19 Jun 1917 (19 years old)
Place of Birth
Beeston, Nottingham
Employment, Education or Hobbies
Ernest attended Nether Street School in Beeston and then worked for the Co-op. In 1911 he was an errand boy. He was a keen footballer and played for Lenton Priory. He was a Boys' Brigade member.
- Family History
- Military History
- Extra Information
- Photographs
Family History
He was the son of Sam and Elizabeth (née Cross) Tonks. David Hallam notes 'Sam was born at Radford in 1860, Elizabeth at Beeston in 1859. Sam was a lace maker who had married Elizabeth in 1896 after previously being married to Ann (née Chamberlain) who had died in 1892. In 1901, the family - including Ernest's three older half brothers William, John and Arthur - lived at 30, Willoughby Street, Beeston. It appears Ernest was his mother's only child.' (Beeston Remembers). They later lived at 21, Clifton Street, Beeston, Nottingham.
Military History
He enlisted in December 1914.
Extra Information
Grevillers British Cemetery, Grave Reference: VI A 12
Photographs
From Beeston Remembers by David Hallam. Courtesy of Brian Szowkomud
Ernest Samuel Tonks
From Beeston Remembers by David Hallam. Courtesy of Brian Szowkomud
Obituary in the Beeston Gazette
From Beeston Remembers by David Hallam. Courtesy of Brian Szowkomud
CWGC headstone in Grevillers British Cemetery