Name
Harry Stevens
1893
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
03/09/1916
22
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
23482
The Loyal North Lancashire Regiment
9th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
THIEPVAL MEMORIAL
Pier and Face 11 A.
France
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
Hitchin Town Memorial, St Mary's Church Roll of Honour (Book), Hitchin
Pre War
Harry was born in 1893 in Hitchin and christened on 18 September 1893 in Hitchin. His parents were Joseph and Selina Stevens.
In 1901 the family were living at No 5 Gascoignes Yd, Queen St, Hitchin, Herts. Present were Joseph (34) and Selina (29), with Joseph and working as a railway navvy. Their children were: Elizabeth (10) and Harry (8).
In 1911 the family were living at the same address. Present were both parents, Joseph now working as a railway labourer. The census recorded they had been married for 20 years with 2 children, both living. Of the children only Harry was present and at 17 was working as a tradesman baker. He now had an adopted brother, Arthur (3) and also present was a boarder Arthur Knight (42).
Harry’ss service record reveals that he attested as 25598(*1) into the Bedfordshire Regiment on 10 December 1915 (probably as part of the Derby Scheme), officially entering the Army Reserve the following day and was not mobilised on 25 January 1916. At his attestation he was recorded as living at 7 Kershall Hill, Hitchin, when he was 22 years and 4 months and working as a labourer, was not married at that time and his next of kin was given as his father Joseph. He was described on the 10 December 1916 as 5’ 4 ½” tall, 133 lbs with a 35” chest (fully expanded), with slight varicose veins, 2 missing teeth and 1 decayed.
He married Florence Lily Hunt (b 22/10/1895) on 15 April 1916 and her address was recorded as 53 Queen Street, Hitchin. She was the sister of Frederick and Bertram Hunt who also appear on Hitchin memorials.
Officially he was recorded as born in Hitchin and enlisted there.
Wartime Service
He posted on the 26 January 1916 - the day after his mobilization – 3rd Battalion The Loyal North
Lancashire Regiment on 26 June 1916 – probably when his initial training was complete.
He landed in France on 1 July 1916 and went first to Etaples on the 2nd and there, at some point was was attached to the 20th Battalion Manchester Regiment and finally to the 9th Battalion and presumably that is when his service number changed to 23482. That Battalion was in the 74th Brigade of the 25th Division of II Corps in the Reserve Army.
He was posted as wounded and missing on 3 September 1916 and later presumed dead on or since that date, probably on 30 October 1916.
His death coincides with the Battle of Pozieres and his unit had been at Ovillers on the 28th August 1916 in the Somme Sector. The ground was covered by enormous shell holes and there was not a single landmark for miles. The trenches had been blown to pieces and were full of German and British corpses. By the 4th September the church at Ovillers had been reduced to a signboard.
He has no known grave but is remembered on Pier/Face 11A of the Thiepval Memorial to the Missing in France.
His widow received British War Medal 6 May 1921 and his Victory medal 10 April 1922. She would also have received his Death Plaque.
Additional Information
After his death £1 4s 0d pay owing was authorised to go to his widow on 30 October 1917. Later, a war gratuity of £3 was authorised to be paid to her on 6 October 1919.
His pension cards record his widow as his next of kin, living at 53 Queens Street, Hitchin. She was awarded a grant on 20 August 1917 and then a pension of 13s 9d a week from 4 June 1917.
*1 SDITGW has the incorrect former service number of 25508.
Acknowledgments
Adrian Dunne, David C Baines, Jonty Wild, Stuart Osborne
