WW1 Samuel Francis Jonkers (11048) and Sons Edward and Cyril

Samuel Francis Jonkers (11048) was born 18 May 1871 in Rockhampton, Australia.

He was the son of the late Samuel and Elinor Jonkers; husband of Agnes Campbell Jonkers (nee Parr), of 32 Greenlane, Remuera, Auckland. Samuel, an orchardist and Agnes had eight children, (a daughter, Emily, died a month after her birth), and two of their six sons also fought in World War I. [1]

Samuel sailed on 1 May 1916, arriving at Suez, Egypt on 9 June 1916, as a Rifleman with the 6th Reinforcements 1st Battalion, E Company New Zealand Rifle Brigade. The was transferred to Sling in England and later to the Somme, Northern France, as a Private with the Canterbury Infantry Regiment, 2nd Battalion. Where during August to November 1916 on the Somme, came the advent of a new weapon – the tank – which was hoped that it would support the infantry as they crossed no-man’s land. Despite proving useful at times, especially in crushing enemy barbed wire, the tanks failed to have a decisive impact. For the troops involved, the push rapidly became a nightmare. Rain quickly turned the shell-torn battlefield into a quagmire. Soldiers huddled in their trenches, sometimes knee-deep in mud and often without proper cover. This long battle did not end the war as was hoped but instead huge casualties and losses were suffered on both sides. Samuel Francis Jonkers (11048) was one of those killed in action on 1 October 1916, 47 years of age. [2] Samuel’s memorial is at Caterpillar Valley (New Zealand) Memorial, Caterpillar Valley Cemetery, Longueval, Somme, France.