John Ashley Steventon
He attended Henry Mellish School, Nottingham and worked as an improver millwright in the Engineering Department of John Player & Son along side his brother and father who was a fitter millwright foreman.
- Family History
- Military history
- Extra information
- Photographs
John Ashley was the younest son of Thomas Henry and Elsie Steventon (née Wild).
Thomas was born in Nottingham in December 1890 and Elsie also in Nottingham in January 1893. They were married in 1915 (OND) and had two sons, Arthur b. 18 May 1917 and John Ashley b. 9 February 1921.
Thomas, Elsie and their sons were living at 25 Leacroft Road, Nottingham, in 1939 when the England & Wales Register was compiled. Thomas was a fitter millwright foreman chargehand at John Player & Sons, where he was also an ARP warden, and both sons also worked for the company, Arthur was a fitter millwright and John an 'improver' millwright.
Thomas and Elsie were still living at the same address when their sons were killed in 1942.
Thomas died in December 1969 and his widow in 1978 (reg. JFM). Both were buried in Nottingham Church Cemetery and their sons are commemorated on their headstone.
John Ashley served in the Royal Navy as an Ordnance Artificer 4th Class and was killed when HMS Veteran was sunk on 23 September 1942.
His body was not recovered for burial and he is commemorated on the Chatham Naval Memorial (63.2).
HMS Veteran was an Admiralty modified W-class destroyer. She was ordered in April 1918 from John Brown & Company under the 14th War Program. On 23 September 1942, Convoy RB1 was sighted by U-380 and U-boat Group Blitz was ordered to attack. Groups Vorwarts and Pfiel were also directed against RB1. On the 25th the SS Boston and SS New York were sunk and the convoy scattered. On 26 September the convoy was ordered to reform and HMS Veteran came across the survivors of the SS New York. While she was picking up some of the survivors HMS Veteran was hit by two torpedoes from U-404. HMS Veteran sank quickly in position 54.51N 23.04W south of Iceland after an explosion.
All hands were lost including three other Nottingham men, Petty Officer James Crumley, Stoker 1st Class William Vincent and Ordinary Seaman Jack Perry.
A number of survivors from the SS New York were also lost. Other survivors from SS New York were later rescued. (Wikipedia)
U-404. KrvKpt. Otto von Bulow, Knights Cross, in command 5 August 1941-19 July 1943. Total 15 ships (1 warship, HMS Veteran) sunk, 2 ships damaged. He survived the war. His successor in command was Oberleutnant zur See Adolf Schonberg (20 July 1943-28 July 1943), 1 patrol, 5 days. U-404 was ‘Sunk on 28 July 1943 in the Bay of Biscay north-west of Cape Ortegal, Spain, in position 45.53N, 09.25W, by depth charges from two US Liberator aircraft (4th A/S Sqn USAAF/Y & N) and a British Liberator aircraft (224 Sqn RAF/W). 51 dead (all hands lost).’ (Source: uboat.net/boats/u404.htm)
His brother, Arthur Steventon, also served in the Royal Navy (C/MX66092 Ordnance Artificer 4th Class) and was killed when HMS Cornwall was sunk on 5 April 1942. (See record on this Roll of Honour).
Aspley St Margaret: The clock in the church tower was added in 1953 as a memorial to the parishioners of St. Margaret’s Church who died in WW2 and a bronze memorial records their names. The clock originally had only two dials, two were added later, one by Thomas and Elsie Steventon. Brass plaque with inscription: 'The clock dial on the east wall of the tower was dedicated on Sunday, February 10th, 1958 in memory of our dear sons Arthur and John Ashley Steventon aged 24 and 21 who lost their lives at sea, on active service Easter Day, April 5th, 1942 and September 26th, 1942 while serving with the Royal Navy in the Second World War.' (southwellchurches.nottingham.ac.uk/aspley/hclock.php
CWGC Additional information: He was the son of Thomas Henry and Elsie Steventon of 25, Leacroft Road, Bobber's Mill, Nottingham.
Nottingham Evening Post, ‘Missing’, 5 May 1942: ‘Steventon. Arthur, ordnance artificer, aged 24, missing presumed killed, HMS Cornwall, beloved nephew of Mr and Mrs Steventon, 21a Breckhill-road, Woodthorpe.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk)
Nottingham Evening Post, ‘Acknowledgements’, 8 May 1942: ‘Mr and Mrs H Steventon sincerely thank relatives, friends and employees of Messrs. J Player and Sons for their kindness and letters of sympathy in their tragic loss.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk)
Nottingham Evening Post, 3 November 1942, report with photographs: ‘Nottingham Brothers Lost At Sea. Actg.-Ordnance Artificer John Ashley Steventon, 21, only surviving son of Mr and Mrs H Steventon, of 25, Leacroft-road, Bobbers Mill, is presumd to have lost his life in the destroyer Veteran. His brother, Ordnance-Artificer Arthur Steventon, 24, was lost when the cruiser HMS Cornwall sank in the Indian Ocean at Easter. Both attended the Henry Mellish School, and before joining the Navy were on the staff of the engineering department of Player’s.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk)
Nottingham Evening Post, ‘Deaths’, 5 November 1942: ‘Steventon. In loving memory of John A, Ordnance Artificer, killed HMS Veteran in September, aged 21; Also Arthur, Ordnance Artificer, killed HMS Cornwall, April, aged 24, beloved nephews of Mr and Mrs Steventon, 21a Breckhill-road, Woodthorpe.’ www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk)
Nottingham Evening Post, ‘Deaths’, 5 November 1942:’Steventon. Jack, O.A. lost at sea, dear pal of Ken Faulds.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk)
Nottingham Evening Post, ‘Deaths’, 5 November 1942:’Steventon. (JA). Loving memories of dear John, presumed lost at sea. Sadly missed by Mr, Mrs Loader, Eric, Andrew and Evelyn.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk)
Nottingham Evening Post, ‘Acknowledgements’, 10 November 1942: ‘Mr and Mrs H Steventon sincerely thank relatives, friends, employees of Messrs. J Player and Sons, and all who have sent messages and letters of sympathy in their tragic loss.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk)
'In Memoriam' notices to both their two sons were placed in the Nottingham Evening Post by Thomas and Elsie from 1943 to 1956 (inclusive), with the exception of 1946 and 1951. The notices were usually placed in April to coincide with Arthur's death, except for 1943 (25 September) and 1945 (26 September).
Nottingham Evening Post, ‘Deaths’, 16 December 1969: 'Steventon. Thomas Henry (Harry) late 1st Notts RHA, the beloved husband of Elsie, father of late Arthur and John, passed away peacefully in hospital. Service St Margaret’s, Aspley Lane, Friday 1.30pm. Interment Church Cemetery 2 o’clock. Flower to Lymns, please.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk)
Additional research/record updated, RF (June 2026)
Photo of John Ashley Steventon
Commemorated on the Chatham Naval Memorial (www.cwgc.org)