THE TONKINSON BROTHERS' WWI DEATH PLAQUES, SURGEON H.M.S. MONMOUTH & S. STAFFS R. P.O.W.

Albert Joseph Tonkinson and Arthur George Tonkinson were born in 1887 and 1889 respectively, the sons of William and Elizabeth Tonkinson, of "Winton", Codsall, Staffs. Albert was first educated at the University of Birmingham and London Hospital, graduating as Batchelor of Medicine and Science at London University in 1911, representing Birmingham University at Hockey. He joined the Navy in October 1913, awarded the prize for the highest score in the Greenwich examination examination, serving at Portsmouth and confirmed in the rank of Surgeon in His Majesty's Fleet, Gazetted on 17 Apr 1914 and joining the crew of H.M.S. Monmouth on 1 Aug 1914. On 1 Nov 1914, she was sunk by the Gneisenau and Nürnberg at the Battle of Coronel. The entire crew of 735 men perished in the stormy waters off the coast of Chile. Albert is remembered on the Plymouth Naval Memorial.

His younger brother, Arthur, entered France with the 1/5th Battalion, South Staffordshire Regiment on 5 Mar 1915 and was made Prisoner of War, declared 'disappeared, probably killed/Died of Wounds on 13 Oct 1915. He is remembered on the Loos Memorial.