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General => Armed Forces => World War One => Topic started by: dfk on Wednesday 29 July 20 05:41 BST (UK)
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Hi there
A relation escapes me as to what he did in WW1, Herbert Southern born in 1896 in the Northwich area of Cheshire was in the Royal Artillery, that much is known but not what and were he went during the war, was he gassed or something else, did he find romance during the war or any other story of interest.
Is it possible someone might be able to tell his story for me.
Thanking you.
David in New Zealand.
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There is a Herbert Southern
Address Heath Lane Wincham Northwich
Enlistment year 1915
Age 19 years
Occupation joiner
Regiment Royal Artillery
Regiment number 105451 other reg.num.10SH51 and
Rank gunner
He served in France 1915/17
And was demobbed 12/2/19
He had a gunshot wound to His head and face
His next of kin was his father John Southern
If this is your relation looks like he married 1923 to a Nora H Mellor Stockport Cheshire
Rosie
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You probably already know he was baptised on 23 April 1896 at Wincham, Cheshire, the son of John and Elisabeth Ann Southern .
On the 1939 Register there is a Herbert Southern, born 1896, living at 92 Owley Wood road, Weaverham, Cheshire (Northwich District). Norah H Southern is living at the same address.
The death of a Herbert Southern, age 61, was registered in Northwich during Oct - Dec 1957. Looks like your man.
Herbert and Norah married in 1923 and it looks as if they had a daughter in 1928 and a son in 1933. Because they may still be alive I am unable to give their names but you can find the information for yourself on Free BMD
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Thank you.
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His service record is quite complete. Rosie has identified it on Ancestry (although their transcription of "second number" is wrong - he had only one number 105451). It is also on Findmypast.
Of immediate interest perhaps is that he was wounded when serving with 106 Brigade Royal Field Artillery, admitted to hospital at Rouen on 23 July 1917 and after convalescence went back to a different unit in September.
You can download the war diary of the brigade (free at the moment) at:
http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C7353281 However, as is so often the case, the war diary makes no mention of casualties at all around that date. There may be more elsewhere.
He served in a number of other units also from arrival in France on 13 Dec 1915 until demobbed in Jan 1919.
If you haven't got a sub, you might wish to take out a short term sub to one or the other of the sites to see the record and then come back with queries if you have any. His medal card is here, also free to download:http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/D6415516
MaxD
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The diary of the Commander Royal Artillery 24 Division under which 106 Brigade and others were serving records "intense" "heavy" "very active" enemy shell fire, including gas on all the battery positions in the period 23-25 July. "Some of our batteries had a very bad time and were shelled practically the whole day (25th)".
This was the work up to 3rd Ypres when our artillery was engageg in preliminary bombardment in preparation for the later infantry action later that month.
The four batteries of 106 Brigade were deployed to the south west of Zillebeke. In square I 28 on the map at the link:
https://maps.nls.uk/geo/explore/side-by-side/#zoom=14&lat=50.84924&lon=2.89378&layers=101464900&right=BingHyb
MaxD
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I will have to see his medical record on the ancestry site when i get a subbie, very interesting and thank you so much, i will go an take a look at the archives site now.
thank you.
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It is more than a medical record, it is his service record. Link here for when you have a sub to Ancestry:
https://www.rootschat.com/links/01prv/
His medal roll entries are the top two here:
https://www.rootschat.com/links/01prw/
I'll send more links to war diaries in due course.
MaxD
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wow, thank you
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The units he served with in France were (give or take a day or two):
18 Dec 1915 to 25 March1916 - 24 Divisional Ammunition Column
25 Mar 1916 to 23 Jul 1917 - 106 Brigade RFA
(to hospital and convalescence until 27 Aug 1917
27 Aug 1917 to 1 May 1918 61 Divisional Ammunition Column
1 May 1918 until return to UK 14 Jan 1919 306 Brigade RFA
Relevant war diaries (106 Bde given earlier) are:
24 DAC http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C7353287
61 DAC http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C7355317
306 Bde http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C7355312
MaxD
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Thank you.