William John Toomer

Story:
William John Toomer was born in 1894 in Twyford, Shaftesbury, Dorset. He was the son of Charles Toomer, a Bricklayer's Labourer, and Ellen Louisa Toomer (nee Rideout). At the time of the 1911 Census he was single, working as a farm labourer and living at 61 West Street, Fontmell Magna, Shaftesbury, Dorset. He enlisted in Blandford on 7th September, 1914 and joined the 5th Service Battalion of the Dorsetshire Regiment (Service No. 11094) and at the time of his death held the rank of Lance Corporal. His first posting to the Balkans area was from 11 Jul 1915 and he was in action at Gallipoli, Turkey, where he received a wound to the right hand on 24th August, 1915, and was admitted to the 24th Casualty Clearing Station. Following his recovery and further service in the area he embarked from Alexandria, Egypt, for France, arriving there on 9th July, 1916 and was posted into the field on 26th September, 1916. It was on that very day he was reported wounded, later missing, and presumed killed in action. He was awarded the Victory and British War Medals as well as the 1915 Star. His name appears on the Thiepval Memorial in France (Pier and Face 7 B). He is also remembered on the Fontmell Magna War Memorial, Fontmell Magna, Shaftesbury.

Printed Sources: "Fontmell Magna and the First World War", compiled by Chris Bellers, Fontmell Magna Village Archive Society, 2014.