In the La Chapelle D’Armentieres Communal Cemetery, France is the Commonwealth War Grave of 3097 Private John George Southern, serving with the 1/7th Battalion, Durham Light Infantry who died 31/07/1915.

John George Southern was born the 27th March 1891 at Southwick, Sunderland, the eldest son of  George Southern of Southwick, a miner, and his wife Alice, of Walter Tom Street, Southwick, daughter of John Lathon.

John was educated at the High Southwick Council school, and was employed at Hylton Colliery in Sunderland. He was also a regular Sunday School teacher at a Primitive Methodist Church and was engaged in Christian Endeavour work.

His ambition was to be a foreign Missionary, and a few days before his death, he intimated that if he is spared to return home his future would be devoted to that cause.

He enlisted on the 9th November 1914, and was trained at Sunderland. He went to the front on the 19th April 1915, coming into action a few days later at Ypres, on Whit Monday.

The Durham’s were severely cut up.

He was killed in action at Armentieres on the 31st July 1915.

He was unmarried.

One of his officers, writing to his mother said:-In the past his presence among uninspired all that was good, In the future, if God spares us, we will retain a lasting memory of his goodness.

Source: De Ruvigny Roll of Honour

The Newcastle Journal 23/08/1915 carried a report about his death.

John George Southern is remembered at Southwick  on S130.08,  S130.12 and S130.22, at Sunderland in S140.48 Part 12 page 265 and on S140.106,  in Peter Gibson’s book, on the 7th D.L.I. Roll of Honour and in the D.L.I. Book of Remembrance page 198