Service Number 5103427 – Army Catering Corps.
Attached Royal Warwickshire Regiment
Arthur Tonks was the son of Thomas, a Railway Wagon and Carriage Builder, and Love Eliza Tonks, of Ward End, Birmingham; and husband of Anne Violet Tonks (nee Preece). In 1939 Arthur and Anne were living at 336 Hurst Lane, Castle Bromwich with their two sons, Bernard and Brian.
Army Catering Corps
World War 2 saw Arthur serving in the Royal Army Catering Corps attached to the Royal Warwickshire Regiment.
The Army Catering Corps was a corps of the British Army, responsible for the feeding of all Army units. In 1938 Leslie Hore-Belisha, the Secretary of State for War, appointed Sir Isidore Salmon as Honorary Catering Adviser for the Army. Salmon produced a report recommending the creation of a school of catering at St. Omer Barracks in Aldershot in 1938. His report also led to the formation of the Army Catering Corps as part of the Royal Army Service Corps in March 1941.
Death
Records show that Arthur survived the war but fell ill some months after its end. He died on 5th September 1946 in Ronkswood Hospital Worcester from heart disease. His wife, Anne was present at his death and both his death certificate and probate records show that the family was still living at 336 Hurst Lane, Castle Bromwich.
Arthur is buried in Yardley Cemetery in Grave 4213, one of 517 CWG graves.
Inscription
EVER IN THE THOUGHTS OF HIS LOVING WIFE VIOLET AND SONS BRIAN AND BERNARD. R.I.P.
Download commemorative certificate (PDF)
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