Branch of Service

Army

Conflict

World War I (1914-1918)

Date of Enlistment

28/07/1915

Date of Discharge

22/03/1919

Place of Enlistment

Melbourne, Victoria

Gender

Male

Date of Birth

16/10/1889

Place of Birth

Hall NSW

Address (at enlistment)

'Heywood' via Hall ACT

Occupation

School teacher

Next of Kin

James Southwell (father), 'Heywood' via Hall

Service Number

2775

Final Rank

Corporal

Final Unit

8 Battalion AIF

Hall Memorial Grove, Victoria Street, Hall ACT
Roll of Honour, Hall Public School
Roll of Honour, Wattle Park Church, Barton Highway, Hall

Military Medal. The citation reads: "During the fighting at Polygon Wood east of Ypres this NCO led his Lewis Gunners against enemy blockhouses and strong points, and under heavy enemy machine gun fire succeeded in reaching a position from which he opened fire and completely silenced the enemy, thereby enabling the other Section to capture the positions without any casualties. He showed great courage and determination and set a fine example to his men".

Southwell was a school teacher at Elimdale School near the Victorian border when enlisted in Melbourne with the 8th Battalion in July 1915. He served in France from 1916 and Belgium during 1917 where he was awarded the Military Medal for his actions during the Battle of Menin Road on 20 September. He received a severe wound a few days later near Broodseinde but returned to the front in France in July 1918 in time for the offensive launched against the Germans on the Somme during which the 8th Battalion captured Lihons on 11 August. He was gassed in September 1918 and returned to Australia, being discharged on 22 March 1919. He was the brother of Norman Southwell.

Southwell returned to teaching and married Miriam Stear in January 1921 in Yass. She died in 1929 and he married Linda Morton in 1931. Southwell died on 11 August 1959 near Wauchope NSW.

Description - height 5 feet 6¾ inches, chest 33-35 inches, dark complexion, grey eyes, brown hair, Methodist.

Lyall Gillespie, 'The Southwell Family, pioneers of the Canberra district', 1988 (p.101)
Monaro Pioneers Index - http://www.monaropioneers.com/pioneers.htm
Queanbeyan Age - 27 June 1919
AWM Collections Record : DASEY2363
NAA RecordSearch - Series B2455 (First Australian Imperial Force Personnel Dossiers, 1914-1920)
Hall School Museum - 'When He Answered the Call' exhibition, April 2015
Sydney Morning Herald - 15 August 1959