Carole Fife has provided the following.
William was born in Bedlington in 1895, the youngest child of Robert and Jane Southern. In 1901 the family was living at 20, South Row, Bedlington Colliery and in 1911 they were living at 92, North Row. Robert was a colliery blacksmith and William and his brothers also went to work at the pit, although their father died in 1908 when he was aged 60. William enlisted in Bedlington and joined 20th Northumberland Fusiliers (1st Tyneside Scottish). He died on the first day of the Battle of the Somme, and was listed as 'Killed' in an item in the 'Blyth News' of 31st July 1916.
He is remembered in Bedlington Station on B163.04
