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Henry Ardagh Tomkins - Information

Henry Ardagh Tomkins was born in Appin c1894. When the war started, he was living in Dapto with his family. Here, Henry found work as a produce carter, while serving in the cadets and with the 28th Light Horse. He then decided to join the AIF. He enlisted in Holsworthy on the 21st of September 1915, and was posted to the 12th Reinforcements, 7th Light Horse Regiment. He then embarked Sydney onboard the HMAT Persic on the 18th of November 1915.

By late December, Henry was in Egypt with his unit at Maadi. In March 1916, he was taken on strength to the 2nd Reserve Regiment. In July, Henry was then appointed Assistant Instructor at the Grenadier School at Tel-el-Kebir Camp. Then, in late September, he was appointed Temporary Sergeant at Moascar, and attended the Imperial NCO School in Zeitoun. As a result, he was now a qualified instructor. However, in March 1917, he reverted to Trooper and was transferred back to the 7th Light Horse Regiment, but was promoted Lance Corporal in July. Throughout 1917, the 7th Regiment had attempted to seize the Turkish Citadel of Gaza. Just before it was successfully captured, he was attached to Headquarters at El Fukhari in October. By the following year, Henry was again back with the 7th Light Horse and was promoted Corporal, making Temporary Sergeant in November. After the war ended, Henry completed duty in the Dardanelles, and was later made Squadron Sergeant Major. In late June 1919, Henry boarded the HT Madras at Kantara to return to Australia and eventually to his home in Appin.