Signalman Kenneth Sotheran Royal Signals & Special Constabulary
Kenneth Sotheran
The Man Kenneth Sotheran (Ken) was born on Friday 11th September 1931 in Easingwold, North Yorkshire son of Thomas a Carpenter and Joiner and Dorothy nee Bell. He was one of three children, Robert 1931 who sadly died the same year and Leslie William 26 Feb 35 – 29 May 2009.
The 193 Register shows the family living at 3 Ebor Cottage, Derwent, Ken and Leslie have though been redacted, most probably due to their ages as the time.
Ken enlisted into the Royal Signals as a Signalman, probably as a National Service Soldier. His service number was 22965801 and he saw active service in Malaya and awarded the General Service Medal with ‘Malaya’ clasp.
During the third quarter of 1954 aged 23, he married Eileen Walker in York and they had four children, Ann born in 1957, Catherine 1959, Philip 1962, Marion 1969.
In later life Ken became a Special Constable, was promoted to Sergeant and awarded his Faithful Service Medal.
Ken died on 19th May 2007 in York and Eileen six year later on 1st January 2014.
The 193 Register shows the family living at 3 Ebor Cottage, Derwent, Ken and Leslie have though been redacted, most probably due to their ages as the time.
Ken enlisted into the Royal Signals as a Signalman, probably as a National Service Soldier. His service number was 22965801 and he saw active service in Malaya and awarded the General Service Medal with ‘Malaya’ clasp.
During the third quarter of 1954 aged 23, he married Eileen Walker in York and they had four children, Ann born in 1957, Catherine 1959, Philip 1962, Marion 1969.
In later life Ken became a Special Constable, was promoted to Sergeant and awarded his Faithful Service Medal.
Ken died on 19th May 2007 in York and Eileen six year later on 1st January 2014.
General Service Medal 'Malaya'. Special Constabulary Faithful Service Medal.
The Story The pair of medals awarded to Kenneth Sotheran were acquired from Paul Dawson Medals, The Shambles, York on a very hot afternoon in May 2017. They were of interest purely because of the simplicity of the pair.
No specific details could be found on Ancestry.UK for Kenneth Sotheran, although there is a possible 'hit', that will require further cross referencing to confirm it is the same man.
Following a further cursory search on Ancestry in 2025, it was discovered that a family member had actually copied the picture of Ken’s medals together with the brief write up from the website onto a family tree section of Ancestry, thus revealing Ken’s details.
As a result, photographs, births and marriages were located, making it possible to build up a slightly more detailed biography of Ken. A pleasing find and good to have a photograph of the ‘Man Behind his Medals’.
No specific details could be found on Ancestry.UK for Kenneth Sotheran, although there is a possible 'hit', that will require further cross referencing to confirm it is the same man.
Following a further cursory search on Ancestry in 2025, it was discovered that a family member had actually copied the picture of Ken’s medals together with the brief write up from the website onto a family tree section of Ancestry, thus revealing Ken’s details.
As a result, photographs, births and marriages were located, making it possible to build up a slightly more detailed biography of Ken. A pleasing find and good to have a photograph of the ‘Man Behind his Medals’.
Ken Sotheran
Thomas Sotheran
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Leslie William Sotheran
Dorothy Sotheran nee Bell
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Medal Details:
- General Service Medal: 22965801 SIGMN.K.SOTHERAN. R.SIGS.
- Special Constabulary Faithful Service Medal: SERGT KENNETH SOTHERAN
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This page last updated 10 Dec 25
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