Private 8944 Daniel Southall

Killed in Action on Sunday, 16th May 1915, age 21.
Commemorated on Panel 17 and 18 of Le Touret Memorial, Pas De Calais, France.

2nd Bn., Worcestershire Regiment. 5th Brigade of 2nd Division.

Son of Mrs Southall, of 4 Court, 4 House, Bloomfield Rd., Tipton, Staffs.
Born: Coseley, Enlisted: Dudley, Resident: Tipton.

First landed France & Flanders, 24th November 1914.
Medal entitlement: 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal.
Soldier's Papers at National Archives survived and transcribed.

Commemorated on the Tipton Library, and St. John's memorials.
Commemorated here because he appears on a Tipton memorial.

Link to Commonwealth War Graves Site: www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/1562393/

Genealogical Data

Birth of Daniel Southall registered March quarter 1895 in Dudley.

1901 Census
42 Chapel Street, Sedgley, Staffs.
Thomas Southall (60, Blast Engine Driver, born Tipton), his wife Hannah (52, born Bradley), and their 4 children: Sarah (23, born Coseley), Betsy (12, born Coseley), Winifred (10, born Coseley), and Daniel (6, born Coseley).

Daniel's father, Thomas, died in June quarter 1903. Daniel's mother, Hannah, married Samuel Hamilton (incorrectly registered as Hambleton) in March quarter 1909. Samuel died just 2 years later in March quarter 1911.

1911 Census
52 Bloomfield Road, Tipton, Staffs.
Hannah Hamilton (62, Widow, born West Bromwich), and her son: Daniel Southall (16, Miner - Underground, born Coseley).

Personal Data

Daniel attested for 6 years in the Special Reserve (5th Battalion) of the Worcestershire Regiment at Dudley on 24th February 1913. He was 18 years old, 5 feet 4 inches tall with a 35-inch chest, weighed 113 pounds, and his physical condition was described as fair. He had blue eyes and fair hair, was a Wesleyan, and employed as an Iron Worker.

Upon attestation Daniel spent 5 months at Worcester on 'drill on enlistment' - his basic training. From 13th July 1914 he was on the Reserves annual camp, and was immediately mobilised on 5th August. He was then transferred to Millbrook for final training before joining the British Expeditionary Force, which he did on 24th November. He was then posted to the 2nd Battalion Worcesters, which was re-building after the losses of 1st Ypres.

After Daniel's death, his outstanding army pay and allowances amounted to £3/3/8d (3 pounds, 3 shillings and 8 pence); this was shared between: his mother Mrs Hannah Hamilton, his 4 sisters: Mrs Sarah Jane Ratcliffe, Mrs Ada Swann, Mrs Elizabeth Langford and Mrs Winifred Davies, his nephews Gunner Thomas Clarke and Joseph Clarke (children of his late sister Mrs Mary Maria Clarke), and to Joseph Southall (whose address was unknown). His War Gratuity was £3/0/0d (3 pounds exactly), this was paid to his mother in October 1919. The value of the War Gratuity suggests that Daniel had enlisted within the previous 12 months.

Daniel's Pension Card does not show an amount, but his mother is shown as beneficiary to a Dependant's Pension on the Pension Card of Thomas Clarke (her nephew). It is not entirely clear if this pension was in respect of her son or her nephew.

Action resulting in his death

Battle of Festubert 16th May 1915, from "The History of the Worcesterhire Regiment" by Stacke.
The Worcestershire Companies rose to their feet and plunged forward through the mud. Surprise was now impossible; the German flares lit up the scene and the companies had some 200 yards to traverse before they could close with the enemy.

In the changing light of the flares, control was difficult - companies and platoons became disordered; officers and men fell in rapid succession under a hail of bullets. The survivors rushed on in little groups up to the German wire entanglements. The majority of the attackers were either shot down or driven by the fire to shelter in such cover as was afforded by shell holes or small folds in the ground.

The Worcestershire platoons made their way back as best they could to billets behind the line. When all were collected it was found that over 250 of all ranks had been lost. This included 4 Tipton men who were to lose their lives: Parkes, Griffiths, Southall and Taylor. Daniel Southall has no known grave and is commemorated on the Le Touret Memorial.

Newspaper Cuttings

Tipton Herald 4 March 1916
The following soldier is missing and readers are asked if any of their soldier relatives can supply any information:- Private D. Southall, 7th Worcesters. Any information concerning the fate of this sodier would be gratefully received by his parents who reside at 4 Court 4 House, Bloomfield Road, Tipton.