PREVIOUS SERVICE – 4 Years – 88 Infantry Battalion
14/11/1914- Allotted to 16th Battalion Blackboy Hill WA
22/12/1914- Embarked Fremantle WA aboard ” Ceramic ” bound for Egypt
3/02/1915- Disembarked Alexandria ex Australia to Overseas Training Base
10/04/1915- To ” B ” Company 16th Battalion Egypt
12/04/1915- Embarked Alexandria with Mediterranean Expeditionary Forces bound for Gallipoli Peninsula
25/04/1915 –  Promoted Captain in the field Gallipoli
2/05/1915- Wounded in Action Gallipoli
3/05/1915- Reported Missing in Action Galliploi
23/05/1915- Court of Enquiry found soldier to have been Killed in Action Gallipoli.

REPORT ON SOLDIER’S DEATH

Informant – HART,  William, 656 – ” B ” Company, 16th Battalion _ ” On the night of the 2/3 May 1915 Lieut SOUTHERN  was temporarily in command of “B ” Company. We advanced up the Gully and rushed the Ridge on the right of it.  Digging commenced,  the troops singing ” Tipperary “. We got about 30 yards over the edge of the ridge  and formed a firing line to cover the diggers. Lieut. SOUTHERN was next to me. All of a sudden he was hit and fell backwards.  It must have been in the throat or chest  as he made a gurgling sound. I took hold of him to get him back  and took him to where they were digging  and left him there, as I was wounded myself.  I have not seen him since.  In my opinion, from the limpness  and absence of movement of Lieut. SOUTHERN while I was getting him back, I think the wound he had received was fatal “.

SERVICE MEDALS AWARDED

1914/15 Star – Medal No. 13631

British War Medal – No. 7283

Victory Medal – No. 7257

Memorial Plaque/Scroll – No. 356467.

MEMORIAL INSCRIPTIONS

Australian War Memorial Canberra ACT – Panel No. 81

Lone Pine War Memorial Gallipoli Turkey – Panel No. 50.