SOUTHALL, William

William Southall was the son of Mr and Mrs Southall of 7 Crabbe Street, Wollescote, and attended Wollescote school. He enlisted in the Worcesters, probably in 1917, and was transferred to the much expanded Machine Gun Corps. By the middle of 1918 he was attached to the MG Company of the 62nd Division. When the last German Spring offensive was directed towards the Marne and Paris, the situation looked serious and the Division was transferred to the French army for the Battle of the Tardenois. The fighting in the valley of the Ardre opened on the 20th July and was intended to drive the German forces back. Eventually this battle was a success but on the first day their artillery and machine guns were too much for the 62nd Division in the ravines and woods above the Ardre. Casualties were heavy and included Private William Southall. He was 19 years of age and is buried in Marfaux British Cemetery (IX A 2) and commemorated on the Lye and Wollescote, Lye church and Wollescote school Memorials.