Arthur Thomas White

Story:
Arthur Thomas White was born in Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 9th March 1880 and baptised at St. James Church on 4th April 1880, the son of William White and Lydia White (née Hillier). He lived all of his life, apart from Military Service, in Shaftesbury. He had, prior to the First World War, served with the Territorial Unit of the 4th Battalion of the Dorsetshire Regiment and had been placed with the 1st Reserves.   He re-enlisted on 27th August 1914 and joined the 3rd Battalion of the Dorsetshire Regiment as a Private (Service No. 7654). He was sent to France and Flanders on 5 Dec 1914 and whilst serving there in August 1915 suffered from Trench Fever. He also suffered from being gassed and receiving a gunshot wound to the hand.  Whilst on recovery leave he married Margaret White (same surname) in Berwick St. John, Dorset, on 20th November 1915. On 9th September 1916 he was transferred to the 3rd Battalion of the Hampshire Regiment (Service No. 29736) and was finally discharged on 8th February 1919. He was awarded the Victory and British War medals as well as the 1914/15 Star.  In addition he was awarded a small pension in regard to the earlier gassing.  On discharge he went to live at 3 Layton Lane, Shaftesbury.   By the time of the 1939 Register he was living at 57 Salisbury Street, Shaftesbury, working as a Gardener.   He died in 1949 and was buried at St. Rumbold's Church, Cann, Shaftesbury, on 4th June 1949.

Arthur's brother John (b.1890) also served in the war, with the Royal Engineers.