Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of John Thomas Tookey, a wine merchant’s porter, born 1853 in Ayston, Rutland and baptised on the 25th December 1853 in St. Mary the Virgin Church, Ayston and his wife Sarah Jane Tookey (nee Page, married in the 3rd quarter of 1878 in the Uppingham, Rutland district), born in the 4th quarter of 1852 in Ridlington, Rutland. Arthur Samuel, a schoolboy was born on the 8th April 1881 in Uppingham, Rutland and was baptised on the 6th November 1881 in SS. Peter and Paul’s Church, Uppingham, his siblings were, Sarah Ellen, a schoolgirl, born in the 4th quarter of 1879 and baptised on the 26th December 1879 in SS. Peter and Paul’s Church, Uppingham, John George, a schoolboy, born on the 15th January 1883 and baptised on the 3rd June 1883 in SS. Peter and Paul’s Church, Uppingham, Alice Mary, a schoolgirl, born in the 2nd quarter of 1885 and Frederick Thomas, born on the 12th December 1889, all his siblings were born in Uppingham, in April 1891 the family home was at Rope Walk, North Street, Uppingham. In March 1901 Arthur was employed as a stone mason and was residing in the family home at 5, North Street, Rope Walk, Uppingham together with his father, a wine merchant’s porter, his mother and siblings, John, an engine and machine fitter, Frederick, Francis William, born in the 3rd quarter of 1891 and Kate May, born on the 20th April 1893, the latter two siblings were both born in Uppingham. In April 1911 Arthur was absent from the family home at Orange Lane, Uppingham, residing there was his father, a jobbing gardener, his mother and sister Sarah, a domestic help, Arthur was employed as an electrician and was residing in the family home at 13, Harley Road, Willesden, Middlesex together with his wife, Lily Tookey (nee May, married on the 21st June 1909 in St. John the Evangelist Church, Goole Yorkshire), born on the 10th May 1883 in Goole, Yorkshire.
Arthur’s Army enlistment documents do not survive, all that is known of his military service, from the few existing documents, is that he enlisted in Harlesden, Middlesex. An account taken from the 1920 publication, Rutland and the Great War, complied by G. Phillips states. “He enlisted in the 3rd Oxford and Bucks. Light Infantry in April 1915, and transferred to the 4th Worcestershire Regt. later. In June 1915, he was sent out to Gallipoli, and took part in the attack on Suvla Bay, where he was reported missing and later presumed killed August 4th, 1915.” What can be confirmed from the few documents that are available, is that he was posted to the Worcestershire Regiment, being allotted the service number 23051, and he was then transferred as a Private to the 4th Battalion of that Regiment. It was with this Battalion that he first entered the theatre of war in the Balkans on the 15th July 1915, embarking for Gallipoli and taking part in the attack on Suvla Bay where he was reported missing, presumed killed in action on the 6th August 1915, his body was never recovered and he is commemorated on the Helles Memorial to the Missing in Gallipoli. He was awarded the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal. Arthur’s widow was awarded a weekly Army Pension of ten shillings, to commence on the 3rd April 1916. His younger brother Frederick Thomas was killed in action on the 20th September 1917.
The War Diary Records: 6 Aug-15 – GULLY BEACH. Battalion left the beach at 4.00am. Relieved the MUNSTER FUSILIERS in trench H.11, south of KRITHIA. Order for attack. Firing line two half Companies. “W” Company on right “X” Company on the left. 2nd Line (supports). Remaining half Companies of “W” and “X”. 3rd and 4th Lines (Reserves) Each composed of half Companies of “Y” and “Z”. “W” and “X” Companies occupied the fire trench, “Y” and “Z” Companies remained in reserve. The objective of the attack was trench H.13 which was flanked on either end by an advanced redoubt and the trenches running from the redoubts into our front line. These were originally communication trenches but had been converted by the enemy to within bomb throwing distance of our line. SEE PLAN ATTACHED. These flank positions were attacked by other units simultaneously with the WORCESTERSHIRE’S attack. Our batteries shelled H.13 and flank redoubts the whole morning until 2.30pm when bombardment preceding the infantry advance commenced, when every available gun was brought to bear on this section. The Turkish guns replied with great vigour, shelling our supports and reserves with such effect with their light field pieces that several of these trenches became untenable and the troops were moved. Our trench mortars, borrowed from the French, did great execution in the redoubt to our left front and totally demolished the parapet in several places. Breeches also gradually appeared in the parapet of H.13. The bombardment continued furiously, the enemy’s guns replying the whole time. At 3.30pm the second line had taken up position in the fire trench and the third and fourth line in the communication trenches ready to follow. At 3.40pm the range of the guns was lengthened and the first line went over the parapet, followed almost immediately by the second. The fourth line entered the trench to assist the third line over the parapet. The first line had now covered about 200 yards but were already thinned considerably on the left flank by machine gun fire notwithstanding the haze of dust which partially covered them. Many men now forced to stop for breath and when they again advanced came under a heavy enfilade fire. The second line suffered terribly from machine gun fire when about half way across and only isolated groups reached the slope to the Turkish trenches. The third and fourth lines encountered a murderous machine gun and shell fire immediately they left the trench and though none turned back only a small section in dead ground on the right succeeded in getting more than 50 yards from our trench. On the extreme right our men were enfiladed by machine gun fire which increased in intensity when the attack on our left failed, and the only survivors from this flank were those who were hit on leaving the trench and fell or crawled back. Detached parties of the first and second line had entered the enemy’s trench and had thrown the tin disc over the back parapet to show the sections occupied. On the right a continuous stretch of 30 or 40 yards was occupied by what afterwards proved to be about 30 men and one Sergeant and here an artillery screen was displayed denoting that a firm foot hold had been established. With this exception the strength and dispositions of the parties which entered the enemy’s trench were unknown and could not be ascertained until dark, as the attack on both flanks had failed and the only approach was across the open. It was owing to the failure of these attacks that our men were subjected to the terrible enfilade machine gun fire, which was continued even after the last line had nearly all been shot down, being brought to bear together with the shrapnel on the groups of wounded until scarcely a man was left alive. The ROYAL FUSILIERS who had come up from reserve, were now occupying H.11 and they were relieved by the MUNSTER FUSILIERS about 9.00pm. From dusk onwards those of the wounded who were able got back to the trench and many were brought in by the FUSILIERS and those of our men who remained. At dark an Officers Patrol went out to try and locate the sections of trench H.13 occupied by our men but after one hour’s thorough reconnaissance were convinced that the whole trench was now in the hands of the Turks. Hence it was concluded that the scattered groups who had entered the trench had all either been killed or captured. Meanwhile a Sergeant and twelve men had returned to our trench. They were the survivors of the party of thirty who had secured a footing in the enemy’s trench early in the afternoon and although the enemy occupied the same trench on either side, with the aid of barricades, they had maintained their position with four bombs only and rifle fire for five hours. Having by then expended nearly all their ammunition and lost twenty men they withdrew under cover of darkness. Many wounded men brought in during the night and at dawn the Battalion returned to GULLY BEACH for reorganisation having lost in the attack 16 officers and 752 other ranks.
On Wednesday September 15th, 1915, The Leicester Daily Post published the following article under the heading. “LEICESTERSHIRE AND THE WAR.” – ROLL OF HONOUR. – Private A. TOOKEY, 4th Worcester’s (T.F.), who is reported missing at Gallipoli since early in August, is the eldest of four sons of Mr. and Mrs. Tookey, Orange-lane, Uppingham, three of whom have volunteered for their country.
On Friday September 17th 1915, The Melton Mowbray Times & Vale of Belvoir Gazette published the following article under the heading. “DISTRICT WAR ITEMS.” – UPPINGHAM SOLDIER MISSING. – Private A. Tookey, 4th Worcester’s (T.F.), who is reported missing at Gallipoli since early August, is the eldest of four sons of Mr. and Mrs. Tookey, Orange Lane, Uppingham, three of whom have volunteered for their country.