Southern,+James+Henry


 * Private James Henry Southern** of the 1st, 6th Battalion of the Duke of Wellington's (West Riding) Regiment. No. 2394.



1890: Birth on 29th May in Bingley. Registered in Keighley. Son of William and Elizabeth Southern. Father's occupation: Labourer. Address, News Road Side. Registered in Keighley. Baptism at St Peter's Church on 16th July 1890. 1891. Census. Age 11 months. Living at 82, Hermit Hole, Ingrow, with parents, 4 sisters and 2 brothers. Father's occupation: Labourer for Stone mason. 1901: Census. Age 10 years. Living at 340, Whins Wood, Ingrow with parents, four sisters, 1 brothers, 1 brother in law, and 1 nephew. Father's occupation: General labourer. 1911: Census. Age 20 years. Living at 342, Whins Wood, Ingrow, with two brothers, 1 sister and 1 niece. Occupation: Engineering Mechanic. 1914: Attested to the 6th Reserve Battalion, Duke of Wellington's (West Riding) Regiment on 28th September. Living at 342, Whins Terrace, Ingrow. Transferred to 2/6th Bn 25th December. Height: 5 feet 2, 3/4 inches. Chest 32 inches plus 2 inches. Vision: Left Eye 6/6, Right eye 6/6. 1915: Transferred to 1/6th Battalion on 17th April, 23rd April, 29th June. Marriage to Lillian Craven, in the second quarter of the year at Halifax. 1916: Posted to 3/6th Battalion on 29th January. Was a second class shot. Conduct: Absent from tattoo on 10th March, punishment: Confined to barracks for 2 days. Conduct: Absent from tattoo on 2nd June, punishment: Deprived of 10 days pay, also forfeits 4 days pay. Posted 1/6th Battalion 6th June. Joined Base depot 7th June. Disembarked at Havre on 24th June, to Expeditionary Force in France. Served 166 days until 11th December: To 3rd Entrenching battalion at Havre on 6th August. To Unit (in field) on 23rd October. Their son (James H. Southern) was born on 26th November. Admitted to 1/2 WR Field Abulance with Trench feet and septic wound on 11th December. To 17 Casualty Clearing Station with Trench feet on 10th December. To 23rd General Hospital at Etaples with Ezytherma(sic) on 11th December. To Hosp Ship "Glad Antwerp"(?) with Ezytherma on 11th December. To 1st London General Hospital RAMC with Trench feet 10th December until 31st December (22 days total). 'Home' from 12th December 1915 until 5th June 1916. (177 days). To Expeditionary Force in France on 6th June until 23rd January 1917. (232 days). 1917: Admitted to 1/3rd (WR) Field ambulance on 20th January with a septic knee. Admitted to 2nd (WR) Field ambulance on 23rd January. Wounded by artillery shell whilst patient in Dressing Station. Died of wounds (Shrapnel wound to chest) at 2nd (WR) Field Ambulance on 23rd January. Total service 2 years 118 days. Buried in Plot XI, Row C, Grave 2, at Warlincourt Halte British Cemetery, Saulty, Nord-Pas-de-Calais, France. Inscription: "Until the day breaks" "And the shadows flee away". (Mr J. Mills Esq., 16, Mayfield Grove, Gorton, Manchester.) War Gratuity payment: To widow Lilian, £2 5s 10d on 25th May 1917. His personal effects arrived with his wife in Halifax on 3rd June. 1919: Gratuity payment: To widow Lilian, £3 6s 8d on 24th November. 1920: Gratuity payment: To widow Lilian Dixon, £6 13s 4d on 18th February. 1st April, his widow Lilian received his Memorial Scroll. 18th September(?) his widow Lilian received his 1914-15 Star. 1921: 27th January, his widow Lilian received his British War Medal 8th March, his widow Lilian received his Victory Medal.

James is remembered in Keighley's Great War Roll of Honour book in Keighley Library. James is also remembered on the Cross Roads Primitive Methodist Chapel Sunday School roll of honour.


 * Keighley News report dated 17th February 1917:**

WOUNDED SOLDIER KILLED WHILST IN HOSPITAL Private J. H. Southern (26), West Riding Regiment, son of Mrs. Southern, of 342, Whins Terrace, Keighley, has been killed in action. He enlisted at the outbreak of war, and went to the front in 1915. In the winter he was invalided home, suffering from "trench feet," but returned to the front in May last. He leaves a widow and one child, who reside at Halifax. Writing from the front giving particulars of his death, Lieutenant B. G. Buxton says: "It is a very deep regret to me to have to inform you that your husband was killed in action on the 22nd. He had gone to hospital with a slightly septic knee, and was killed there by a bomb from a German aeroplane. He has been buried in a small cemetery in the village. It is impossible for me to do more than express my very deep sympathy in this irreparable loss. He was always civil and cheerful, and naturally a popular member of his company, and all officers, non-commissioned officers and men feel his loss extremely. Although not in the firing line at the time, he died for the cause for which he has been fighting and for which he offered his services."