Robert Southward was the son of David and Agnes Southward of 5 (later 9) Makinsons Row, Galgate, Nr Lancaster. Robert was born in October 1917 and worked at Storey Bros White Cross Mill until call up in 1940.

He then served in the Border Regiment, but in late 1943 was transferred to the 2nd West Yorkshires and sent to Burma, where he was killed in February 1944 during the battle of the Admin Box.