Name
Horace Charles Stevens
1897
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
21/03/1918
21
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Lance Corporal
202015
Oxford and Bucks Light Infantry
2nd/4th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
POZIERES MEMORIAL
Panel 50 and 51.
France
Headstone Inscription
NA
UK & Other Memorials
Not on the Tring memorials
Pre War
Horace Charles Stevens was born in Tring in 1897 to Charles Stevens, a railway porter, and Mary (nee Brooks).
On the 1901 Census the family of parents, Arnold (born 1896) and Horace were boarders with Thomas and Elizabeth at 35, Letchford Gardens, Hammersmith, London.
On the 1911 Census The family of parents, Arnold, Horace, Elsie (born 1904), Walter (born 1907) and Cecil George (born 1910) were living at Railway Terrace, Buckingham, Bucks.
Wartime Service
No Service Record was found for Horace who enlisted in the Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry as Territorial Private 5450, probably in the Buckinghamshire Battalion. He was at some time promoted to Lance Corporal.
He was transferred to to 2/4th Battalion and went to France with them on 24 May 1916. The 2/4 Battalion were part of 184 Brigade 61st (2nd South Midland) Division. In 1916 they, together with Australian 5th Division, launched the unsuccessful attack at Fromelles (19-20 Jul) intended to divert attention from actions on the Somme. In 1917 they took part in Operatons on the Ancre (11 Jan -13 Mar), the German retreat to the Hindenburg line (15 Mar-18 Aug) and at Passchendaele at the Battle of Langemarck (16-18 Aug).before transferring the the Cambrai Front to assist in resisting the German Counter attacks in Nov. Horace received the service number 202015 when the Territorial Force was renumbered in 1917. In 1918 they were involved in the Battle St Quentin (21-23 Mar) during the German Spring Offensive. Horace was reported killed in action on 21 Mar 1918, his remains were not recovered and he is remembered on the Pozieres Memorial on the Somme.
Additional Information
No Record of War Gratuity or payment of arrears was found.
Acknowledgments
Neil Cooper
Jonty Wild
