Edward Harry Dray Southgate
Edward Harry Dray Southgate
Edward Harry Dray Southgate was born in Hythe, Hampshire on the 25th of March 1889; his mother registered the birth in Elham, Kent and she lived in Hythe. His father was employed as a sick attendant.
In 1891, he was aged 2 and living in Stourfield Road, Pokesdown with his parents, John Edward & Elizabeth Flora Southgate and his sister Flora and a boarder, named Albert W. Mill (aged 33 from Jersey).
In 1899, the family were living at Fenton Lodge, Pokesdown Lane, Pokesdown (Pokesdown Lane is now called Stourvale Road (presently 33 Stourvale Road).
In 1901, on the 31st of March, he was 12 years old, living in Stowcoate Road (sic) Pokesdown, with his parents and siblings, Flora L. (10), Elizabeth M. (7), Frederick W. (5), Cecil W. (3) and George A. (0). His mother’s niece, Dorris I. Foakes aged 7, was also staying there. His father was a gardener.
By 1906, they had moved to the Homestead, Beswick Road, Talbot Village, and his sister Beatrice was baptised at St. Marks Church.
On the 1st of December, 1908, he enlisted in the Royal Artillery Territorial Army.
On the, 2nd of July 1910, he was a bachelor aged 22, a tram conductor living in Ensbury Park Road, when he married Daisy Adelaide Watton at St Andrew’s Church, Kinson. He signed his name, E. Harry Southgate.
The photograph is of him and his wife Daisy.
In 1911, he was called Harry Southgate, aged 23 a tramway conductor, a worker in Municipal Services, married and living with his wife Daisy and their 10 month old daughter Constance in Ensbury Park. The remainder of his family (including George) were living in Talbot Village.
1918, 7th of June, he was appointed Second Lieutenant in the Indian Army. He was subsequently appointed to Lieutenant in the Indian Army and then Lieutenant in the Royal Garrison Artillery until 1920.
On the 19th of August 1928, his son Trevor was baptised. The family were living in Kingswell Road, Ensbury Park. He was an electric motorman. The following year their daughter Jeanne was born and subsequently baptised at St Marks. They were still living in KIngswell Road, but he had now retired as a Tramway Worker.
On the 19th of December 1939, he re-enlisted into the 85th Field Regiment, Royal Artillery, which had been embodied in the Territorial Army. In March, the following year, he was promoted to Sergeant, but was discharged in June 1940 because he ceased to fulfil Army Medical Requirements.
On the 23rd of Oct 1944, he died, in Aylesbury, Bucks. He was subsequently buried in St Marks, Talbot Village. The Bournemouth Daily Echo (25.10 1944) reported: “Deaths: Southgate – On Oct. 23rd, Edward Harry, aged 55, at a Military Hospital, formerly Sergeant, R.A. beloved husband of Daisy of 114 Oswald Road, Winton passed peacefully to rest.” His grave is number 496.
