Trafford

Attended Seamon's Moss School.

A Civil Servant with the Air Ministry, he joined the RAF in 1940.

Part trained in the USA.  A Pilot, he was killed in a flying accident at
Dumfries, Scotland, two days from finishing his training.  Buried
09/06/1943 - Burial No. 11,716.

Flying with 26 O.T.U. the crew of five took off from RAF Wing,
Buckinghamshire at 23.40 hours, in a Wellington bomber Mk 10 - No. HE746,
for a night navigation training detail.  The a/c crashed 2 miles north of
RAF Dunfries, whilst on approach.  Not long before that, the crew had put
out a call advising that their starboard engine had failed.

The crew were:- Pilot - Sgt. L.A. Southam;  Sgt. H.J. Newel (RCAF);  Sgt.
H. Parker;  Sgt. G.W. Mullis;  & Sgt. J.C. Kent (RCAF).

The Dunfries & Galloway Aviation Museum, situated in the old watch tower,
have on display, the propeller from this Wellington. 

RAF Wing was situated 4 miles west of Leightonj Buzzard.

His father, Arthur J. died 10/01/1955 aged 74 and his mother Ellen died
29/08/1934 aged 54.

His brother, Trooper Sydney Harold Southam also died on active service.

See Messenger Newspaper article dated - 26th February 1998.