Walter Southey
Encyclopedia
Captain Walter Alfred Southey, was a World War One
RFC
and RAF
fighter ace
. He was awarded the D.F.C.
and bar. He was the second scoring ace for his squadron, behind only A. F. W. Beauchamp Proctor.
and New Cross
. His father, Walter, was a warehouseman in the lace trade; his mother's name was Emma (née Stacey). It is understood that Walter may have been a pupil at Christ's Hospital
- the Bluecoat school.
with No. 48 Squadron through the spring of 1917, making no victory claims, and was wounded when shot down on 4 June 1917 and did not return to action until March 1918. He scored twenty victories with 84 squadron
between May and October 1918, flying the S.E.5a. At the end of the war Southey was discharged from RAF service.
Walter Southey's score of 20 victories was made up of 5 enemy observation balloons destroyed, 6 enemy airplanes destroyed (plus two more that were shared wins), 7 enemy airplanes driven down out of control (including one shared victory).
due to a motorcycle accident, suffered while he was riding to work. He is buried at Ladywell Cemetery
, near Brockley, London, England
, in Plot 103J.
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
RFC
Royal Flying Corps
The Royal Flying Corps was the over-land air arm of the British military during most of the First World War. During the early part of the war, the RFC's responsibilities were centred on support of the British Army, via artillery co-operation and photographic reconnaissance...
and RAF
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
fighter ace
Flying ace
A flying ace or fighter ace is a military aviator credited with shooting down several enemy aircraft during aerial combat. The actual number of aerial victories required to officially qualify as an "ace" has varied, but is usually considered to be five or more...
. He was awarded the D.F.C.
Distinguished Flying Cross (United Kingdom)
The Distinguished Flying Cross is a military decoration awarded to personnel of the United Kingdom's Royal Air Force and other services, and formerly to officers of other Commonwealth countries, for "an act or acts of valour, courage or devotion to duty whilst flying in active operations against...
and bar. He was the second scoring ace for his squadron, behind only A. F. W. Beauchamp Proctor.
Early life
Born on 29 April 1897, in Bermondsey, he was familiarly known as Peter Southey. His family later lived in BrockleyBrockley
Brockley is a district of south London, England, located in the London Borough of Lewisham. It is situated south-east of Charing Cross.It is covered by the London postcode districts SE4 and SE14.-History:...
and New Cross
New Cross
New Cross is a district and ward of the London Borough of Lewisham, England. It is situated 4 miles south-east of Charing Cross. The ward covered by London post town and the SE 14 postcode district. New Cross is near St Johns, Telegraph Hill, Nunhead, Peckham, Brockley, Deptford and Greenwich...
. His father, Walter, was a warehouseman in the lace trade; his mother's name was Emma (née Stacey). It is understood that Walter may have been a pupil at Christ's Hospital
Christ's Hospital
Christ's Hospital is an English coeducational independent day and boarding school with Royal Charter located in the Sussex countryside just south of Horsham in Horsham District, West Sussex, England...
- the Bluecoat school.
Military service
He enlisted on 14 November 1915, joining the 19th Royal Fusiliers and being assigned Regimental No. 6741. Southey served in South Africa for seven months before being commissioned into the RFC on 4 August 1916. He originally flew Bristol FightersBristol F.2 Fighter
The Bristol F.2 Fighter was a British two-seat biplane fighter and reconnaissance aircraft of the First World War flown by the Royal Flying Corps. It is often simply called the Bristol Fighter or popularly the "Brisfit" or "Biff". Despite being a two-seater, the F.2B proved to be an agile aircraft...
with No. 48 Squadron through the spring of 1917, making no victory claims, and was wounded when shot down on 4 June 1917 and did not return to action until March 1918. He scored twenty victories with 84 squadron
No. 84 Squadron RAF
No. 84 Squadron of the Royal Air Force is at present a Search and Rescue Squadron based at RAF Akrotiri, it uses the Bell Griffin HAR.2 helicopter. It is currently part of the RAF's Search and Rescue Force-History:...
between May and October 1918, flying the S.E.5a. At the end of the war Southey was discharged from RAF service.
Walter Southey's score of 20 victories was made up of 5 enemy observation balloons destroyed, 6 enemy airplanes destroyed (plus two more that were shared wins), 7 enemy airplanes driven down out of control (including one shared victory).
Death
His early death was from a skull fractureSkull fracture
A skull fracture is a break in one or more of the bones in the skull usually occurring as a result of blunt force trauma. If the force of the impact is excessive the bone may fracture at or near the site of the impact...
due to a motorcycle accident, suffered while he was riding to work. He is buried at Ladywell Cemetery
Brockley and Ladywell Cemeteries
Brockley and Ladywell Cemeteries were opened within one month of each other in 1858 and are sited on adjacent plots of previously open land. The two component parts are characteristic examples of the first wave of Victorian public cemeteries and are now part of the Brockley Conservation Area.The...
, near Brockley, London, England
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, in Plot 103J.