Albert James Tuffin

Story:
Albert James Tuffin was born in Fontmell Magna, Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 13th September 1872 and baptised there on 19th October 1872, the son of Albert Philip Tuffin and Susannah Tuffin (née Still).   He spent his early years in Fontmell Magna.  He had enlisted in 1890 with the 1st Volunteer Battalion of the Dorsetshire Regiment as a Private (Service No. 3084).  He served in South Africa and India and was awarded the Queen's South Africa Medal (5 Clasps), the King's South Africa Medal (2 Clasps) and the India Medal (2 Clasps).  His discharge date from this period of service is currently not known.  He married Bertha Mary Lawrence in Fontmell Magna on 23 Nov 1898.  They went on to have four children before Bertha died in 1910.  He had re-enlisted with the 4th Battalion of the Dorsetshire Regiment as a Territorial on 2nd April 1908 attending annual training camps but employed in civilian life as a Postman.  He was embodied on 4th August 1914 and served in the UK only (Service No. 5632).  He married Florence Mabel King at Holy Trinity, Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 19th November 1914.  There was one child of the marriage.  Albert was finally discharged on 31st March 1916 having completed the terms of his engagement.  There is no record of any further medals being awarded.  The 1921 Census and the 1939 Register show him living at 22 St. James Street, Shaftesbury, Dorset, and, by 1939, was described as a retired postman.  He died in Shaftesbury on 7th October 1947 and was buried at St. James Church on 11 Oct 1947.