Arthur Thomas Toogood

Story:
Arthur Thomas Toogood was born in 1875 in Shaftesbury. He was the son of Thomas Burt Toogood, an agricultural labourer, and Rose Toogood (nee Upjohn). In 1898 he married Kate Winifred Oborne. They had five children: two boys and three girls. His mother, Rose, died in 1904. At the time of the 1911 Census Arthur was working as a cowman and living at Jubilee Cottage, Wincombe Lane, Cann, Shaftesbury. His father, Thomas, died in 1915. He enlisted as a Private in the 1st Battalion of the Dorsetshire Regiment (Service No. 3/7577). Later he transferred to the Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry (Service No. 20002) then back to the 1st Battalion of the Dorsetshire Regiment (Final Service No. 14760). By this time his wife and family had moved to 7 Laundry Lane, St. James, Shaftesbury. Arthur served in France and Flanders and was awarded the Victory, British War and 1914 Star medals. He died in Flanders on 12th June 1915 and is buried in the Perth Cemetery (China Wall), Ypres, West Flanders, Belgium, and named on the Transport Farm Annex Memorial 12.  He is also remembered on the Park Walk War Memorial, Shaftesbury, and on the Holy Trinity Memorial, now in St. Peter's Church, Shaftesbury.  Following his death his widow was awarded a weekly pension of 25/- (£1.25p) for herself and four qualifying children which was later increased to 27/6 (£1.37) on 25 Jan 1916.