Sampler by WVL Van Someren

[jim1]

I know it's not particularly germane to this topic but these are 2 different soldiers.
A Junior Subalton was a 2nd./Lt. & wouldn't be a Battalion CO as the minimum rank was Major & that was only in wartime. The usual rank was Lt. Col.
This is 2nd./Lt. Van Someren in 1915. 9 R. Fus.
Became CO of the 9th. in 1918 having been Temp. CO from the previous year.
Terrific achievement at his age.

[Gwaelodian]

Jim, So nice to put a face to this young man. The sampler must be his work because the names and initials don't tie up for the earlier Soldier.  The WVL Van Someren  sampler was made in 1903. If  this Van Someren was just 21 when he commanded, it suggests he made it as a child, doesn't it? Did boys learn to do that ... or was it something that got done in any long convalescence?

 Sounds as if he was likely to have been born around 1898 ... the same age as the friend, Dorothy Spearman (married to John) who gave me the sampler.  What interests me, too, is that Dorothy was brought up in India, where the earlier Van Someren appears to have been. She would have been around the same age as the one you sent a photograph of. How I wish I had thought to ask details when she gave it! I had some vague memory she had said it was her brother, but that is a whole lot more checking and I could be mis-remembering - she might have said like a brother. Thank you so much for this. I want to put up a photo of it as requested by another person. I can see now where to do it, so I'll try it here now. Again, many thanks. N
]

[Gwaelodian]

Jim, Not sure what happened to the photo upload! I'll try again. Kept getting a message it was too big, re scaled and it ended up half a picture!

[jim1]

So he must have been about 7 when he did this.

[DavidJP]

Hi Gwaelodian,

A couple of references (four to be precise) for Lt WVL Van Someran during WW1 in the London Gazette.

In the London Gazette dated 1st December 1914, his promotion? to Temp 2nd Lt in the infantry dated 27th November 1914. Link here: https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/28992/page/10195/data.pdf

In the supplement to the London Gazette dated 18th July 1917, as a Temp Captain in Royal Fusiliers. Link here: https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/30188/supplement/7248/data.pdf

In the supplement to the London Gazette dated 18th February 1918, as a Temp Major in Royal Fusiliers he was awarded the DSO (Distinguished Service Order). Link here: https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/30530/supplement/2156/data.pdf

In the supplement to the London Gazette dated 18th July 1918, as a Temp Major in Royal Fusiliers, he also has the letters M.C. (Military Cross (If I'm not mistaken!)) after his name! Link here: https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/30801/supplement/8443/data.pdf

The mentions July 1917 & July 1918 are for acts of conspicuous gallantry shown by WVL Van Someren.

This link http://www.ww1infantrycos.co.uk/royalfusiliers.html shows the CO's of the various battalions of the Royal Fusiliers & the length of time each man was CO for. It shows the following:

9th (Service) Battalion

Lieutenant-Colonel William Vernon Logan Van Someren 04/07/1917 to 11/11/1918 Remained CO

Lastly a couple of links to some possible biographical data for the Van Someren family here:

http://www.ancientfaces.com/person/robert-garling-van-someren/137710386

http://www.ancientfaces.com/surname/van-someren-family-history/1820794

Parents according to this were Robert Garling Van Someren & Alice (Logan?)

Haven't actually been able to find conclusively any info re birth &/or death dates for WVL Van Someren despite looking, just the above stuff as linked. Hope its of help anyway of least of interest!

Kind regards

David

[Gwaelodian]

  Thank you, David. So many references! I've just been through them all but haven't yet looked into the family references in detail.  It is hard to believe I've had this piece of embroidery in a drawer for more than thirty years without looking at it sensitively.  I intend to try to find more about Dorothy Spearman, who gave it to me. The link is interesting. It would be nice to hand on the sampler to a Van Someren family member if I manage to locate one.

So much research for me! Again, grateful thank. Norma

[jim1]

I find little reference to WVL's life, however there is a probably family member.
Victor Gurner Logan Van Someren (1886-1976).
A zoologist born in Australia & emigrated to Kenya just before the war.
Parents listed as:
Robert Garling Peagan Van Someren
Alice Logan

[Gwaelodian]

Thank you. I'll try to trace this family. Norma

[jim1]

Parents listed as:
Robert Garling Peagan Van Someren
Alice Logan