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South Warwickshire Family History Society War Memorial Transcription Project

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 The Fallen Men of South Warwickshire - World War One


Private 17984 Ernest Edward SOUTHAM - 2nd Battalion Royal Warwickshire Regiment

Killed in Action Friday May 4th, 1917 aged 27

Military History
     
Theatre of War Medals Commonwealth War Grave or Memorial
France and Flanders British War & Victory Medals Arras Memorial
     
Arrived in Theatre Medal Citation (if app) SWFHS Area Memorials
August 1916 in France ~ Alderminster War Memorial
    Stratford on Avon Holy Trinity
Action, Battle or Other Reason Killed Date and Place Enlisted Date Stratford on Avon War Memorial
Battle of Bullecourt (Arras) 10 Apr 1916 at Stratford on Avon Stratford on Avon Cemetery Memorial
     
Place of Death Previous Regiments or Units  
Bullecourt ~  
     

Circumstances Leading to Death (Normally from War Diary)           

Ernest is listed as being killed in action on 4 May 1917. A description of the days events taken from C. L. Kingsford's book The Story of the Royal Warwickshire Regiment and the 2nd Battalion war diary are transcribed below.

2nd Battalion at Bullecourt

The fighting had now extended southwards where on May 8 the Australians broke through the Hindenburg Line east of Bullecourt. On that day the 22nd brigade was in reserve on May 4 but the 2nd Royal Warwickshire attacked northeast of Ecoust. The enemy, who at once put down a heavy barrage, held their position with many machine guns and with uncut wire. Unable to get forward the Royal Warwickshire dug in in scattered posts along the railway embankment before Bullecourt. Later in the afternoon in conjunction with the first Royal Welsh Fusiliers, about 200 men under Captain V. J. Sharkey were pushed forward, but the village was honeycombed with passages like a maze, and in face of the enemy's strong fire the assault failed with heavy casualties. On the two days two officers and 18 men were killed and ten officers and 228 men were wounded or missing.

The 2nd Royal Warwickshire was relieved that night on May 5 for a short rest.

War Diary Entry - 4th May 1917

The battalion war diary reveals that they attacked enemy lines at Bullecourt and Ecoust incurring at least 246 casualties in the process. A full account of the days events can be found in the war diary by clicking here [4 page PDF]. Please note and respect the copyright of The National Archives.

Stratford Herald Obituary

Stratford Herald - Friday 29th June 1917
KILLED IN ACTION - PRIVATE E. SOUTHAM

Mrs. Southam of 26, Mansell Street, Stratford upon Avon has just received the information that her husband, Private E. Southam who was said to be missing on 4th May is now reported to have been killed in action. Private Southam joined the Royal Warwicks on 10th April last year and was sent to the Front the following August. He had been in some very hard fighting. He was formerly a clerk with Messrs. Flower & Sons' Brewery.
 Personal & Family History

 

Birth Date/Place Bapitsm Date/Place
Apr Qtr 1890 at Alderminster 14 Sep 1890
   
Parents Names Parents Abode
John and Sarah Anne Southam 25 Alderminster
   
Wife Marriage Date/Place
Elsie May Southam nee Clarke Oct Qtr 1914 at Stratford on Avon
   
Schools Colleges
  ~
   
Address History Employment History
1890 - Pensioners Row, Alderminster 1901 - School age
1891 - 25 Alderminster 1911 - Gardener
1901 - 25 Alderminster 1916 - Clerk at Flowers and Sons Brewery                   
1911 - 25 Alderminster  
1914 - 26 Mansell Street, Stratford on Avon  
   

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