William Southall, First Baron Southall
| Sir William Southall | |
|---|---|
 Southall photographed on deployment. | |
| Born | William Aaron Southall 2 January 1973 Gestoria, Kingdom of Frankenlisch |
| Title | Baron Southall |
| Nationality | Frankenlischian |
| Residence | Southall Farm, Duchy of Gestoria Kingdom of Frankenlisch |
| Spouse(s) | Elena Walken |
William Southall, First Baron Southall | |
|---|---|
| Allegiance | Frankenlisch Defence Force |
| Years of service | 1988 - present |
| Rank | Major |
| Unit | Royal Drakeson Regiment (1988-2000)
Royal McCaulin Regiment (2000-2017) |
| Battles/wars | Prodavan Soveriegnty Crisis |
| Awards |
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Sir William Southall, Baron Southall CR MC KM is a Frankenlischian military officer and nobleman. He holds the rank of Major in the Frankenlisch Defence Force, commanding a parachute battalion. He has seen combat in Prodava, Vederross and Belvania.
Early Life
William Southall was born to Aaron and Isobel Southall into a farming family from Gestoria. He was born on the second of January, 1973.
Military Service
Southall entered the Frankenlisch Defence Force as an Ensign in 1988 when he was fifteen. He served in the Royal Drakeson Regiment, commanded by Colonel Sir Norbet Drakeson. In three years he had risen smartly to the rank of Senior Lieutenant and commanded a platoon.
Prodavan Sovereignty Crisis
The War in Prodava broke out in 1991 and Southall's regiment was initially kept in the active reserves. However, after months of stalemate, Operation Premonition was planned which became the Ramulani Line Campaign. The offensive called for vast numbers of Vionna-Frankenlischian troops to break through the Ramulani Line, a defensive line of fortifications in northern Prodava, and break through to Ramubad where the monarchist resistance was based.
Much of Southall's service during the campaign is still classified, what is known is that, on the 18th of July, 1991, Southall's company had surrounded a former humanitarian camp that the Prodavan Army had began using as a forward operating base. Positioned on Hill 61, the camp was bombed from the air and with artillery before Southall's company was sent in. Despite the heavy bombardment, the attack was still considered to be a high-risk operation and, as the Frankenlischian High Command considered it a siege, it required a Forlorn Hope to lead the attack. Southall's platoon was volunteered and he led the attack. His main objective was clearing the camp's orphanage which, supposedly, was being used as a command centre for Prodavan forces. The specifics of the Battle of Hill 61 are still classified. A former staff officer for the 2nd Frankenlisch Brigade wrote of Southall and his platoon: "They were, no doubt, shaken by what they encountered during th battle, as were many others involved. This does not necessarily point to any kind of atrocity, it was incredibly tough fighting. Four out of five companies of the Royal Drakeson Regiment took part in the assault, taking heavy casualties. That kind of brutal fighting breeds demons in all those who take part in it"
Vedeross Campaign
After the conclusion of the Prodavan War, Southall was transferred to the Royal McCaulin Regiment, a new regiment of the FDF raised by Colonel Jock McCaulin. This was a conscious decision by the commanders of the Frankenlischian First Corps to keep Southall from further action, at least for the foreseeable future. In 2016, the Imperial Government sent the Royal McCaulin Regiment to Vedeross, supposedly a peacekeeping and humanitarian exercise, not meant to see combat.
The Siege of Bevrilad broke out in November of 2016 and a battlegroup of the Royal McCaulin Regiment was dispatched to support the coalition forces. Captain Southall commanded the battlegroup and soon became joint commander of the attacking coalition force, along with the Arcadian Captain Foley and the Pacifican Captain Jiang. During the battle, Captain Southall led an attack with musicians and colours in a manner not seen since the Imperial Civil War. The attack was a success and the coalition forces, after two days of battle, took Bevrilad. Southall was recalled to Vionna-Frankenlisch and has not seen combat again since.
Personal Life
Southall is married to actress Elena Walken, the pair have been married since 2005, they have two children.
In 2017, Southall's military career was recognised by James Laffwick, Imperial MP for Eldham. Laffwick used Southall as an example of a hero who did not receive the recognition he deserved for his actions (ignoring the fact that Southall received both the Cross of Romulus and the Military Cross in his career). In the Honour for Heroes campaign that followed Laffwick's efforts in Parliament, Southall received a knighthood in the Order of the Mace and later a Barony.
Lord Southall published 'To Hell and Back', a set of memoirs detailing his military career, in 2018. The book was recieved well by critics but was not a financial success.