Son of William John and Annie Southwell, of 68 Cleveland Rd., Sunderland. Enlisted Sept. 1914, in Royal Garrison Artillery. Gazetted March 1918.
Linda Gowans has submitted the following:-
Charles Reginald Southwell was born on November 14th 1894 in Sunderland. In 1901 he was at 7 High Barnes Terrace with his mother Annie, 28 (born Gateshead), older brother Henry (born Belmont), who went into the Submarine service, and younger brother William Arnold (born Sunderland), who served in France and was taken prisoner in 1918. A sister, Dorothy Annie, was born in 1903. In 1911 the family is at 41 Sydenham Terrace; Charles Reginald is an Office Boy. On neither census is Annie’s husband present, which suggests he may have been a seaman. He was living at 68 Cleveland Road when the date December 29th 1920 was entered on a form giving his son’s eligibility for medals.
Charles Reginald first served as 337193, Gunner in 142nd (Durham) Royal Garrison Artillery. He went to France in March 1916: in late July his battalion arrived on the Somme and took part in the subsequent battles. The gunners spent the winter in what started as a green field but became a sea of mud in which they did their utmost to keep their horses in good condition.
In November 1917 he joined the Royal Flying Corps as a Cadet, and did his initial training at St Leonards-on-Sea, followed by time in 1918 at Denham, a training school for Flight Cadets in WW1 (Denham Aerodrome is still in operation). While he was at Denham, The London Gazette announced his appointment on March 9th 1918 as Second Lieutenant. From March 31st he was at Yatesbury, Wiltshire, an important training centre in both World Wars (closed in 1965). The following day, April 1st 1918, saw the Royal Flying Corps become the Royal Air Force: Second Lieutenant Southwell’s Medal Roll Index Card describes his status as ‘Royal Garrison Artillery General List Attached Royal Air Force’.
On May 6th, 1918, he was killed in a flying accident at Yatesbury while piloting an Airco DH6, having spent little more than a month as a founder member of the R.A.F.
The Newcastle Journal 11/05/1918 reports:-
The funeral took place at Sunderland yesterday of Second Lieut. Charles Reginald Southwell RAF who was killed in an aeroplane accident on the 6th inst, the remains being interred in the Bishopwearmouth Cemetery. Deceased was the second son of Mr and Mrs J.W. Southwell 41 Sydenham Terrace Sunderland and the coffin was conveyed on a RGA battery waggon from the residence to St. Gabriel's Church where a service was conducted by the Rev. A. Allwork. There was in attendance a firing party and at the cemetery full military honours were accorded the deceased officer. Eight officers acted as under bearer. Among the wreaths was one from the officials and men of Messrs Doxford and Sons Engine Works, where he was formerly employed.
Charles Reginald Southwell is remembered at Sunderland on S140.009, S140.010 and S140.048 part 4
