Name
Charles Sidney Stevens
12 Nov 1890
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
12/11/1918
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
51856
Suffolk
15 (Suffolk Yeomanry)
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
LAMAIN COMMUNAL CEMETERY
A 5
Belgium
Headstone Inscription
No Report
UK & Other Memorials
Tring Town Memorial, St Peter & St Paul Church Roll of Honour, Tring
Pre War
Charles Sidney Stevens was born in Aylesbury on 12 Nov 1890 (baptised 19 Dec 1890) to Richard Stevens, bricklayer, and Elizabeth Sophia (nee Spittles).
On the 1891 Census the family of parents, Agnes (born 1886), Harry (born 1889) and Sidney Charles were living at 2, Albert Street, Tring.
On the 1901 Census the family of parents, Agnes, Harry, Sidney and Ethel (born 1897) were still living at 2, Albert Street, Tring.
On the 1911 Census Sidney and Harry were working as grooms, Agnes was a cook, Ethel was a factory hand and there were additions of Lily (born 1901) and Albert (born 1906).
Wartime Service
No Service Record was found for Sidney, who enlisted as Private 40049 in 1st/1st Suffolk Yeomanry at some time. It is likely that he may have been posted as a replacement to Egypt following the Battalions duty at Gallipoli, In Egypt they were part of 3rd Dismounted Brigade.
He became Private 51856 in 15th (Suffolk Yeomanry) Battalion when this was formed in Egypt on 5 Jan 1917 and retrained as an Infantry formation in 230th Brigade 74th (Yeomanry) Division . The battalion was used in the Palestine Campaign at the battles in 1917 of 2nd Gaza (17-19 Apr ), 3rd Gaza (27 Oct-7 Nov), Jerusalem (8-9 Dec) and defence of Jerusalem (27-30 Dec). In 1918 they took part in the Battle of Tel Asur 8-12 Mar) before they went to France departing from Alexandria on 28 Apr and arriving in Marseilles on 7 May 1918. They were trained in the area around Abbeville prior to taking part in the Battles of Bapaume (2-3 Sep), Epehy 18 Sep and the Final advance in Picardy during this latter phase Sidney was killed in action on 2 Nov 1918.
This from the Bucks Herald 16th November 1918: “Pte. Charles Sidney Stevens, 3rd Suffolk Regiment, son of Mr. and Mrs. Stevens, 2a, Albert Street, was 28, and had served in the Army for over two years, but only proceeded to France some nine weeks ago. Information was received from his platoon officer on Thursday week that Stevens had been killed in action at Louvain on Nov. 2nd. Before joining the Army Stevens was employed at the Museum, and was held in the highest esteem.”
From the Parish Magazine December 1918: “Charles Sidney Stevens, Royal Suffolk Regiment, was killed on November 2nd. He only went to France in September, though he had been in the army for two and a half years. For many years he was a member of our Church Lads Brigade, and rose to be an instructor, and was among those who worked hardest to make his company the most efficient in the Diocese. His Lieutenant writing to Mr and Mrs Stevens, says: ‘He was killed early in the morning of 2nd November and injuries were such that death was instantaneous. He was buried next morning at a neighbouring cemetery by the Padre. You have my deepest sympathy and I am more exasperated, because he fell a victim of the Hun brutality in shelling villages which he knows are occupied by civilians whom it is impossible to evacuate. He is buried in the Belgian Communal Cemetery and a cross has been erected over his grave.’”
Additional Information
War Gratuity of £13 and arrears of £9 13s 11d was paid to his mother.
Acknowledgments
Neil Cooper
Jonty Wild
