SOUTHALL, Edward J

Edward Southall was the eldest son of Mr and Mrs Joseph Southall of 14 The Cliff, Stourbridge. Before 1914 he was employed by A.H. Guest, the builder, and a member of the Methodists. He volunteered in August 1914 and served at Gallipoli, probably with the 9th Battalion of the Worcesters. Early in the campaign he was injured and spent nine weeks recovering in hospital in Egypt. He returned home in October but was then transferred to the 2nd Battalion and sent in March 1916 to the Western Front. Although they were stationed in a quiet sector near Béthune, those in the trenches always had to endure enemy artillery. Of the two men of the battalion who died in May 1916 one was Private Edward Southall. He was killed in action on the 6th May. He was 25 years of age and is buried in Cambrin Church Cemetery Extension (I 22) and commemorated on the Stourbridge, St. John's church and Methodist church Memorials.