Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A Great War 1917 ‘Messines Ridge’ M.M. awarded to Lance Corporal R. H. Tunkin, 47th Australian Infantry Battalion, Australian Imperial Force, who was killed in action on the Western Front, 12 October 1917

Military Medal, G.V.R. (2529 Pte R. H. Tunkin. 47/Aust: Inf:) minor edge nicks, good very fine £500-£600

M.M. London Gazette 16 August 1917. The original recommendation states:

‘At Messines between 7th and 11th June 1917 during attack and capture of the final objective Private Tunkin was a Linesman. Under very heavy fire he constantly patrolled and repaired telephone lines and kept up communications which to a great extent were responsible for success of the operations".

Robert Hallett Tunkin was born in Wentworth, New South Wales in 1896. He enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force at Melbourne, 15 July 1915. Tunkin embarked for the Middle East and Egypt in November 1915, and served with the 15th Australian Infantry Battalion before transferring to the 47th Australian Infantry Battalion. He served with the latter in the French theatre or war from June 1916.

Tunkin advanced to Lance Corporal in March 1917, and was awarded the M.M. for his gallantry during the attack on Messines Ridge - during which the Battalion suffered 8 officers and 68 other ranks killed, and 7 officers and 319 other ranks wounded. Lance Corporal Tunkin was killed in action on the Western Front, 12 October 1917, and is buried in the Tyne Cot Cemetery, Passchendaele, Belgium.