Henry John Toogood

Story:
Henry John Toogood was born in Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 15 Sep 1887 and baptised at Holy Trinity Church on 9 Oct 1887 the son of Henry John Toogood and Mary Jane Toogood (nee Brickell).   He lived his early life at Sherborne Causeway, Shaftesbury and later Chapel Road, Enmore Green, Shaftesbury.  His marriage to Edith Lucy Green was recorded on the 11 Jun 1911 at Mere, Wiltshire, Registry and they set up home in Kilmington, Wiltshire.  They went on to have twelve children.   Henry enlisted on 6 Nov 1915 and joined the Royal Garrison Artillery as a Gunner (Service No. 64668).  He served in France and Flanders from 29 May 1916 with the 103rd and the 112th Siege Batteries and was eventually promoted to Bombardier.  Whilst in France he was accused of desertion but, after an enquiry, was found not to be at fault.  He was backed up by local police who advised his actions in helping a colleague who was in trouble, which caused his delay in reporting to his unit, were perfectly justified and laudable.   He was discharged on 4 Apr 1919 and awarded the Victory and British War Medals  He gave his address as the time as West Woodlands, Frome, Somerset, though by the 1921 Census he had moved to Halfway, Melksham, Wiltshire, where he worked as a Farm Labourer.   By the time of the 1939 Register he was recorded at Down Farm Cottages, Frome, Somerset, working as a Farm Carter.   His wife, Edith, died in 1961 and Henry went on to re-marry Winifred King in Frome in 1970.  He died at Rowden House Care Home, Frome, on 5 Nov 1975.