Photo : Elliot and Fry

Delville Wood Cemetery from SAWGP

Newcastle Journal Monday 17/07/1916

Headstone thanks to the SAWGP

Medal Index Card

Henry Stanley Soulsby was the second eldest of three boys, born in Newcastle-upon-Tyne in the 4th Quarter of 1887 at 5 Camden Street, Jesmond, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, to Edwin Hay Soulsby, born 16th January 1865, [Foreman Ordnance Fitter], christened at St Nicholas Church on the 12th February 1865, and his wife Henrietta Eliza, born 1st Quarter 1867, [she died in September 1939]. They had married in 1883 during the last three months of that year.

The eldest brother James Edwin Bremner Soulsby [in 1939 was a Tool setter Shell fare Manufacturer Fitter], was born on the 4th January 1884, who married Alice, born 21st April 1886. [They were residing in 1939, at 22 Grosvenor Place, Tynemouth, they had three children, Marjory H, born 24th March 1915, a Manageress Ladies Hosiery and Underwear dealer in 1939. [She married a Bradbeer]. Stanley M. Soulsby born 13th August 1916, a Clerk in a Ship repair Yard, and Eric J. Soulsby born 30th June 1919, [an apprentice Tailoring Salesman and Window Dresser]. The third brother to Henry was the youngest Harold born about 1887. He died after 1901.

Edwin Hay Soulsby, Henry's father was the youngest son of John H. Soulsby, a Waiter and his wife Mary Soulsby, both born at Rothbury. He was one of five children, John, age 26 in 1881, Margaret, age 25, Robert born in 1860, Mary age 14, in 1871 and Edwin born, 16th January 1865.

In 1901, the family were residing at 27 Victoria Street, Elswick, Newcastle-upon-Tyne. Henry was at school, James was an apprentice Ordnance Fitter, working at the same company as his father who was by now a Foreman Ordnance Fitter. Harold was an Office Boy.

They lived very close to the Elswick Munitions Factory which was a huge employer at the time. It was common for members of the family to work at the same company.

Henry Stanley Soulsby enlisted into the newly formed 2nd Eastern Rifles, Union Defence Force and became a Lieutenant.

The King's African Rifles was formed in 1902 by the union of other regular colonial regiments in British East Africa. The 1st and 2nd (Nyasaland) Battalions were established from the Central African Regiment, 3rd (Kenya) Battalion from the East Africa Rifles, 4th and 5th (Uganda) Battalions from the Uganda Rifles, and 6th (Somaliland) Battalion from local Somaliland forces. In 1910 this was disbanded, though a 6th (Tanganyika) Battalion emerged in 1917. A further Tanganyika Battalion, the 26th, was founded in 1939. There were three Kenya battalions, the 5th formed in 1916, the 7th in 1952 and the 11th in 1941. The independence of various colonies spelt the end of the regiment as a whole. The 6th and 26th Battalions were redesignated the Tanganyika Rifles in 1961, 4th Battalion the Uganda Rifles in 1962, 3rd, 5th and 11th Battalions the Kenya Rifles in 1963, and 1st Battalion the Malawi Rifles in 1964.

Source: The Bodleian Library

Henry Stanley Soulsby was also well known in the scouting movement and became the first Scout Master in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, after raising the first troops of Newcastle scouts in 1907.

In 1911, he was residing at 3a Durham Street, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, with his other older brother James Edwin Soulsby

Henry Stanley Soulsby was married to Ethel Soulsby, and they resided at Belmont East Parade, Whitley Bay, Northumberland.

Henry enlisted with the King's Own Scottish Borderers and was a Gazetted a Temporary 2nd Lieutenant from the 23rd August 1915.

He was with the 9th (Service) Battalion King's Own Scottish Borderers but was attached to the 6th (Service) Battalion.

Henry Stanley Soulsby arrived in France on the 25th May 1916.

The 6th Battalion was part of the 27th Brigade, 9th Scottish Division. From the 1st of July 1916, the Battalion provided carrying parties for the 18th Division, 'D' Company left 6.15pm, carrying RE Sores to Loop Trench for Essex Battalion [53rd Brigade], back by 5.30 am 2nd July. 'A' Company left 11.50 pm, carried stores to forward Dump of 54th Brigade near Pommiers Redoubt, returned 6.30am.

2nd July 1916, left Trigger Valley at 9.15pm for Train Alley arrived there a 5.15am. 3rd July 1916 Moved forward to the Eastern perimeter of the village of Montauban. Working parties found for morning and afternoon. Received new orders to attack Bernafay Wood. Attacked Wood at 9pm with 12th Royal Scots. Took Wood. Suffered 5 casualties! captured 2 Machine Guns and 11 prisoners.

Very heavy bombardment commenced at 11pm and continued all night. Hd Qtrs established in shell hole SW end of Wood. Casualties 2nd Lieutenant McBryan and 2nd Lieutenant Wilson sprained ankle. Battalion Consolidating.

4th July Intense enemy bombardment commenced. H Qtrs moved to Chimney Trench. Battalion consolidating. Casualties 2nd Lieutenant Canning and Soulsby and Lieutenant Graham killed. 2nd Lieutenant Rae wounded. Shell Shock to 2nd Lieutenant Graham and Roche. Ordinary ranks 130.

5th July Intense bombardment continued, Casualties Captain Sandison, 2nd Lieutenant Sonstrie? Hillier Holdbrook and Gavin Shell Shock. Ordinary Ranks 40".

Source: 6th Battalion KOSB War Diaries

He was killed by shellfire on the *4th July 1916 in Bernafay Wood. The CWGC has the date as the 6th July.

Henry Stanley Soulsby left effects of £243 1s 11d to his widow Ethel Soulsby and James Edwin Bremner Soulsby engineer, [his eldest brother] on the 21st August 1916.

His parents resided at 3a Durham Street, Newcastle until his mother died, his father then moved to 22 Grosvenor Place, Tynemouth, Northumberland until he died in March 1942.

With Thanks to the South African War Graves project

Henry Stanley Soulsby is remembered at Whitley Bay on W84.02 and in Newcastle on NUT277

Henry Stanley Soulsby is also remembered at the South African Roll of Honour at Delville Wood.

War Diary of another Casualty acccount 6th Batt KOSB
2nd East Africa Rifles Union Defence Force
South African War Graves Project
Defence of Montauban
The CWGC entry for 2nd Lieutenant Soulsby