Person

Christopher Warwick Sotheran was known as Kit. He was born on 16 November 1881 in Chilton. He is elusive in historical records because of the many variants of his surname. He appears as ‘Southeran’ in the 1881 census, ‘Sothman’ in the 1901 census, ‘Sotheran’ in the Royal Naval Division (RND) Index and ‘Sutheran’ on the Ritson’s Colliery Roll of Honour. It has been decided to use the surname on the RND record for this story.

Kit’s parents were Cassop born coal miner Christopher Warwick Sotheran (born 1847) and Jane Sotheran nee Clark (1847-1887). She was a banksman’s daughter from Cassop. His parents married in Easington in 1867 and had at least six children. Kit had three brothers and two sisters. In 1881 the Sotheran family lived at 12 Cross Row, Chilton. Mother Jane’s death is recorded in the Lanchester district in 1887 and by the time of the 1891 census Kit was living with family in Penicuik, Midlothian, Scotland. He had returned to County Durham by the time of the 1901 census. He was boarding with the Frank family at 13 West Wood Row, Burnhope where he was working as a coal miner.

Kit joined the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve shortly after the outbreak of war. He was rated as an able seaman with the service number TZ/2978. He was a member of the Hood Battalion, Royal Naval Division and served in Gallipoli, Turkey in 1915 and in France and Flanders from 1916. He was treated for pyrexia of unknown origin at a casualty clearing station in 1918.

Kit married Jane Sotheran nee Heslop in Chester-le-Street in 1918 and returned to Burnhope after demobilisation. They had four children. Kit died in June 1945 at the age of 63.

Christopher Warwick Sotheran was awarded the 1914-15 Star, the British War Medal and the Victory Medal for his service in World War One.

Civil Parish: Lanchester

Birth date: 16-Nov-1881

Death date: 1945

Armed force/civilian: Navy

Residence: 12 Cross Row, Chilton (1881 census)
Penicuik, Midlothian, Scotland (1891 census)
13 West Wood Row, Burnhope (1901 census)

Employment: Coal miner (Roll of Honour 1914-18, Ritson’s Burnhope and South Pontop Collieries)

Family: Parents: Christopher Warwick Sotheran (b 1844), Jane Sotheran nee Clark (1847-1887)
Siblings: William Sotheran (b 1871), Ralph Sotheran (b 1873), Elizabeth Jane Sotheran (b 1876) George Sotheran (b 1883), Jessie Sotheran (b 1885)
Spouse: Jane Sotheran nee Heslop

Military service:

Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve
Able seaman
Service Number TZ/2978
Hood Battalion, Royal Naval Division

Medal(s): 1914-15 Star
Victory Medal
British War Medal

Memorial(s): Chatham Naval Memorial
Roll of Honour 1914-18, Ritson’s Burnhope and South Pontop Collieries

Gender: Male

Contributed by David D, Stanley, Co Durham