Trafford

Born at High Legh during the December quarter 1896 in the Altrincham R.D. -
ref: 8a/209, the son of William & Harriet Southern.

1901 Census - Sworton Heath, High Legh.  Son - aged: 4 - born: High Legh.  
  Head of household - William Southern - Married - aged: 52 - occ: Woodman
- born: High Legh.  Also - Harriet Southern - Wife - aged: 45 - born:
Sankey, Lancashire.    plus 3 elder siblings.

His father died in 1907.

1911 Census - Westhall Front Lodge, High Legh.   Son - aged: 14 - born:
High Legh.   Head of household - Harriet Southern - Widow - aged: 55 -
born: Sankey, Lancashire.

WO363 - Having previously served with the 3rd Battalion, Cheshire
Regiment.- No.33126, he attested at Chester on the 26th December 1915,
aged: 19 years, 1 month.    Employed as a Chauffeur.    Residing at West
Hall Lodge, High Legh, Cheshire.   Mobilised into the 14th Battalion,
Cheshire Rgt on the 26th January 1916.    Height: 5 feet 10 inches -
Weight: 134 lb - Expanded chest: 35 inches with a 3 inch expansion.   Fit
for Class I.    Posted into the 10th Battalion, Cheshire Regiment, he was
drafted to Etaples, France on the 30th June 1916.   On the 11th July 1916
at the height of the Battle of the Somme he was transferred over to the
17th Bn Manchester Regiment.   Wounded on the 16th October 1916.  (The
Battalion had attacked Bayonnet Trench situated just to the north of Flers
on the 12th October.  They managed to enter the Trench, but were forced to
retire).   Appointed unpaid Lance Corporal in the field on the 18th July
1917.

Having survived the Battle of the Somme 1916, he was Killed in Action on
the first day of the Third Battle of Ypres.   Nine British and six French
Divisions attacked at sunrise (03.50 hrs) on a 15 mile front from the River
Lys to the River Yser - Pilckem Ridge.

Family as recorded in 1919.  Brothers - Wiliam Isaac Souther - aged: 38. 
Henry Erest Southern - aged: 36, residing at Ontario, Canada.   Sisters -
Anne Elizabeth Reilly - aged: 44, residing at Ontario.   Ada Simpson -
aged: 42.    Elsie Mary Briggs - aged: 29.   Bessie Eveline Cooper - aged:
27.

Received the two basic war medals - BWM & the VM.

Listed simply as John Southern on St. Mary's P.C. Rostherne and on his
WO363 form.