Edward William Tink

Edward William Tink

Edward Tink (4th from left, back row)
Officers and NCOs of the Australian Ordnance Corps Depot in Peronne on 6 Oct 1918 AWM E03614
Personal Information
Date of Birth	Not known
Place of Birth	Chatham, Kent, England
Age at Enlistment	28 years, 2 months
Description	5'5½" (1.66m) tall ; 124lbs 56.245 kg ; dark complexion ; brown eyes ; dark brown hair ; tattoo flag on left forearm
Occupation	Carpenter
Religion	Methodist
Address	William street, East Cannington, Western Australia
Next of Kin	Wife , Mrs Olive Annie May Tink
Military Information
Reg Number	2680
Date of Enlistment	8 Jan 1915
Rank	Private
Unit/Formation	11th Battalion, 3rd & 8th Reinforcements later transferred to 5th Division Motor Transport Company
Date of Embarkation	22 Feb 1915 ‒ 17 Mar 1915
Ship Embarked On	HMAT A50 Itonus Fremantle to Port Suez
Date of Embarkation	2 Sep 1915 ‒ ?? Oct 1915
Ship Embarked On	HMAT A68 Anchises Fremantle to Port Suez
Date of Return	1915 ‒ 1915
Ship Returned On	Ship not identified Egypt to Fremantle
Date of Return	24 Jan 1919 ‒ 28 Feb 1919
Ship Returned On	HMHS Delta
Fate	Returned to Australia (x2)
Monument	Gosnells Road Board Honour Roll Wattle Grove Progress Association Roll of Honour
Medals	1914-15 Star British War Medal Victory Medal

Pre War

Before emigrating had served for 6 years in the 7th Middlesex Regiment. 1 child born before he enlisted.

War Service

As a member of the 3rd Reinforcement draft for the 11th Battalion, Edward had embarked in Fremantle on 22 Feb 1915 aboard HMAT A50 Itonus for Egypt where he disembarked in Port Tewfik (Suez). However, he had soon after returned to Australia (reason not recorded), to again depart from Fremantle on 2 Sep 1915 aboard HMAT A68 Anchises as part of the 8th Reinforcement draft for the battalion. In Oct 1915 the 8th reinforcement draft for the 11th Battalion had landed at Anzac Cove, but being fresh compared with those who had been there some time, they were used on beach working parties, remaining behind while the 11th Battalion was sent to Lemnos for a rest. Evacuated to Lemnos, Edward's records tell us that on 12 Dec 1915 he was taken on strength by the 11th Battalion which at the time was at Sarpi Camp on Lemnos. He was posted to 'A' Company which was evacuated to Egypt on 4 Jan 1916 aboard HMT Lake Michigan, having boarded the vessel on 1 Jan 1916.

After a delay due to rough seas they disembarked in Alexandria on 7 Jan 1916 and entrained for Tel-el-Kebir where the battalion as well as the rest of the army refurbished itself, and then in March the later began to reform, creating a five Division Army. On 5 Feb 1916 Edward was admitted to the 2nd Australian General Hospital in Ghezireh with scabies. On 6 Mar 1916 Edward was released from a stay in the 4th Australian Auxiliary Hospital in Abbassia before, as part of the reorganisation, being transferred to the 51st Battalion on 3 Apr 1916.

On 14 May 1916 Edward was transferred to the 13th Training Battalion at that time still in Egypt but transferring to England aboard HMHS Franconia where, at Codford on 24 Jul 1916 he was appointed Lance Corporal. On 18 Dec 1916 he was transferred to the AASC Training Depot at Parkhouse, reverting to Private. Then, on 27 Jan 1917 he was sent to Perham Downs and following some training, on 9 Feb 1917 he finally proceeded overseas to France from Folkestone aboard HMT Princess Victoria, disembarking in Boulogne where he joined the 1st Base Motor Transport Depot at Rouen on 12 Feb 1917. On 27 Feb 1917 he was charged with being in town without a pass, and was punished with 7 days confined to barracks.

Edward was taken on strength by the 5th Division Ammunition Sub Park on 28 Oct 1917 and he was granted leave in the UK from 2 - 16 Dec 1917. On 12 Mar 1918 Edward was again transferred, this time to the 5th Division Mechanical Transport Company with whom he remained until 17 Dec 1918 when he marched out to the AIF Headquarters in London. As a 1915 enlistee he was one of the early ones to be sent home after the Armistice. On returning to Australia he was discharged by the 5th Military District on 29 Apr 1919.

Notes

Edwards Military records show him travelling to Egypt in early 1915 as a member of the 3rd reinforcement draft for the 11th Battalion with regimental number 1645. A hand written entry states he returned to Australia from Egypt, but is not dated, nor is any reason given in his records. He is then, with a different regimental number (2680) a member of the 8th reinforcement draft which landed on Gallipoli but did not serve as part of the 11th Battalion until they were evacuated to Lemnos, being used as a working party at the beach.