Albert Tonks

Hi ALBERT EDWARD TONKS I am searching for information about Canley Crematorium records for early 1956 please. I have emailed them (I am in Australia) but the response was they have no records that far back. I know he died suddenly on the 1st day of his visit back to the UK on 23.3.1956 at Church St, Arley. I would like help to identify what happens with a sudden death and where I can get more information as to the location of his final remains. he has no headstone, there are no indications he was brought back to Australia. He was a very important local achiever so had he been brought home there would be records of a service - there are none. His daughter says there was no funeral or service. I would love to access Canley Crematorium records for 1956 or any hints about what happened to Albert. Hopefully someone here can help me. regards Karin Tonks

Hello Karin, Welcome, pull up a chair & feel relaxed. I've highlighted your post as a question.

Hi Karin, I'm pretty certain records do exist for 1956 burials and cremations at Canley Crematorium. I'm not certain as to why they'd say that??? I mean you can buy the records on a downloadable database here: Coventry Family History Society for £7.50 (just over $15 AUD (as of today's rate)) and they go back to 1943. Perhaps I'm missing something and these are the wrong records??? But I'm sure these are the right records... Guys? Hope you find your records Karin, All the best

Is this the A. E. Tonks we're talking about findagrave.com/? Am guessing this is just a plaque and not Mr Tonk's resting place?

Also, "LAW NOTICES. ALBERT EDWARD TONKS, Late | of Peel Street, Berwick, Retired Boot Repairer, Deceased. - After fourteen clear days James Albert Tonks (in the will wrongly called "Albert James 'Tonks"), of 7 Brisbane - street, Berwick, the exe cutor appointed by deceased's will, dated the 3rd day of August, 1950, will APPLY' to the Supreme Court of Victoria for a grant of PROBATE of the said WILL. FIELD MORRISSEY Sc CO., 25 Langhorne street, Dandenong, solicitors for the applicant." /trove.nla.gov.au/ ^{(The Argus (Melbourne, Vic.) Sat 21 Apr 1956)}

There is a report in the Atherstone News, 20 April 1956, that he was cremated at Canley.

Atherstone News and Herald - Friday 20 April 1956 WAR VETERAN DIES FEW DAYS AFTER ARRIVAL FROM AUSTRALIA AFTER an absence of 31 years In Australia. the death occured at Arley, of Mr. Albert Tonks, a few days after his arrival in this country on a visit to friends and relatives. Mr. Tonks, who was 63 years of age, and lost a leg in the first world war, was born in Atherstone, and was the brother of Mrs. J. Wills, of Owen Street, and Mrs. Brooks, of Bucks Hill. • He emigrated to Australia in the early days of 1914 and joined the forces there. He was married in 1919 and returned to Australia. He leaves a wife and five children. Mr. Tonks was cremated at Canley.

Hi Karin, hi redforever, welcome both to the forum

Just downloaded the Canley Records from the Coventry Family History Society, that I mentioned previously, and can find no 'Tonks'. So no need to buy it Karin. According to the database "The database contains burials and scatterings within the gardens, and NOT the actual cremations that took place." "Some ashes were taken by relatives who may not have scattered them in a standard plot, and Bereavement Services may have no record of these." Therefore I think we can infer that A. E Tonks was cremated at Canley but his ashes were not officially scattered at Canley or Interred there. Perhaps the ashes were scattered elsewhere or unofficially at Canley. Also Welcome RedForever

Interestingly I can't see any records for cremations before 1959 (?) perhaps record keeping for Interment of ashes was not done properly before this time... maybe that's what the people at Canley Crem meant??? For instance, my Great Grandfather, Woodier was cremated 1970 and his ashes scattered in the garden of rememberance (in Canley Crematorium gardens) and even though he has a plaque there, there is no record of this in the database. But the database does say "[Cremation records are kept] in separate record books held at Coventry Bereavement Services."

If I had to guess, the most likely place his ashes are is in the garden of rememberance at Canley Crematorium. ^{©David P Howard, 2014. Licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence - no changes were made. Original link ©Google, 2025.} Where the ashes would have been scattered in a rose flower bed or on the lawns beside. Failing a definitive answer that someone is able to give, I'd suggest this is probably the location (?)

Hello, I was sent info by a former forum member, but as we can see it's not needed. Reference current post 6.

Yes this is the same person. I am really no closer to finding out where his final resting place is. There was no memorial service or funeral here in Australia.

Hi Karin, The article says he was cremated at Canley Crematorium. As there are no records of his ashes being scattered in the grounds there I would think the family had them to scatter. Is it possible that they could have been sent to his family back in Australia ?