THIS week 100 years ago the Great War was still grinding on and Redditch soldiers were still fighting and dying across the globe.
One such was Albert Southall, who was killed on April 1, 1917.
He was the second of two sons born in 1896 to Victor and Annie Maria Southall who lived at 24 Red Lion Street in the town centre, a street which reportedly featured the oldest houses in Redditch until they were demolished by the Development Corporation. However the street, which meets Grove Street, still exists.
Both of Albert’s parents worked in the fishing tackle industry and by 1911 he was working as a printing machine operator.
He joined 1/7th Battalion of the Worcestershires which, with the German retreat to the Hindenburg Line, had advanced to the shattered remains of the French town of Peronne by March 25, 1917.
On March 30th the 1/7th were moved up through squalls of rain and bitter cold in readiness for an attack on the hilltop village of Epehy.
The next day there it stood across a clear valley without a single hedge breaking the line of sight.
An order was sent to ‘test the enemy’s strength’ and two platoons went forward, to be met by a hail of howitzer shells, killing four and wounding seven. However the units pushed on to a sunken road and there waited until nightfall.
It was decided to take the village by surprise and at 2am on April 1 the 1/7th moved forward under the cover of darkness. As dawn broke they charged the Germans, catching them off-guard – the regimental diary says ‘many were bayoneted, more surrendered’ and by 7.30am the village had been captured.
In retaliation the Germans unleashed a savage bombardment, but the Worcestershires had dug in well and clung on to their gains – but at some cost: Nine were killed, including Albert Southall, and 41 wounded.
Albert is remembered today on the St Stephen’s war memorial.
With thanks to Remembering Redditch’s Fallen Heroes, The war diaries of the Worcestershire Regiment, and redditchheritage.org.uk
