Name
George Stevens
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
11/03/1918
58
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
32372
Royal Defence Corps
15th Bn
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
Not Yet Researched
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
GRAVESEND CEMETERY
Screen Wall 5192
United Kingdom
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
Kings Langley Village Memorial,
John Dickinson & Co Memorial, Home Park Mill, Kings Langley,
Oddfellows Memorial, Rickmansworth
Pre War
George Stevens was born in Stoke Poges in 1861, son of William and Harriet. His mother died in 1863 and in 1871 he was living, with his father, a garden labourer, in his grandfather’s household in Stoke Poges.
In 1881 he was working as a labourer and living at Two Stones, Mill End, Rickmansworth and in 1883 married Alice Ayers at St Peter’s Church in Mill End, Rickmansworth. In 1901 he was again living at Stoke Poges, working as a Gas works stoker. In 1911 he and Alice were living at Primrose Hill, Kings Langley, Hertfordshire, where George, aged 50 was working as a labourer at Home Park Mills, one of John Dickinson’s Paper Mills. They had 6 children living with them, including John Edward Stevens, aged 10, who also died in 1918 whilst serving in France, and who is commemorated on the Kings Langley War Memorial.
Wartime Service
The Royal Defence Corps was formed in 1916 and was
composed of soldiers either too old or medically unfit for front line service.
Their role was to provide troops for security and guard duties in the UK;
guarding bridges or ports and prisoner of war camps.
The Dacorum Heritage Trust gives the information that
Private George Stevens was previously in the Hertfordshire Regiment.
Additional Information
George’s soldier’s effects of £4 10s 3d and a War gratuity of £7 5s were left to his widow, Alice.
Acknowledgments
Pat Hamilton
dacorumheritage.org.uk