Bernard Stenson
- Family History
- Military History
- Extra Information
- Photographs
Bernard Stenson was the son of William Stenson Crow (later Stenson) and his wife Mary (née Wall). His father William Stenson Crow was born in Old Basford in 1860. He was recorded on the 1861 Census living in Basford with his mother Mary Crow who was head of household and described as 'soldier's wife', and his older sister Sarah Ann. It is likely that in 1871 at the age of 11 he, and possibly a younger brother Joseph (9), were inmates at Basford Union Workhouse. William Crow married Mary Wall at Basford Register Office in 1882 (A/M/J Basford) and had at least five children, one of whom died in infancy. The births were registered as 'Crow' (mother's maiden name Wall): Ethel b. Basford 1883, Mary b. 1886 d. 1886, William b. Basford 1887, Bernard b. Basford 1891 and Clara b. Bulwell 1898 (reg. J/F/M). There are records that all the children except Bernrd were baptised at Basford St Leodegarius a few months after their births (surname Crow). Acording to the baptismal records, William and Mary were living in Basford on Thurlow Street in 1883, Wilton Terrace in 1886 and Wilton Street in 1887 then in Bulwell in 1898. However, on the 1891 Census the family was recorded using the surname Stenson. William (31) a chemical furnace stoker, and Mary (27) were living at 44 Vernon Avenue, Basford, with their children Ethel (8) and William (3); their daughter Mary had died five years previously. By 1901 William (Stenson) was a grocer with a beer off licence at 71 Dorset Street, Radford. In the home on the night of the census were his wife Mary and their four children Ethel, William a milk boy, Bernard (9) and Clara (3). William snr. died on 4 September 1907; the probate record gave his address as 71 Dorset Street, occupation grocer and provision merchant. His widow Mary died three years later on 23 June 1910. In 1911, Bernard, a colliery banksman labourer, and his sister Clara were living at 55 Croydon Road, Old Radford, with their married sister Ethel Lamb (m. 1905, Stenson-Lamb), her husband John Mills, a miner, and their three children. Their brother William jnr., a journeyman baker, and his wife Agnes Elizabeth (m. 1910, Stenson-Spencer) together with their infant daughter Constance Mary were were living in Basford with his wife's parents and their six children. Bernard (Stenson) married Emma Rea at Radford St Peter’s Church on 15 June 1912. Emma was born in 1892 in Wolverhampton, Staffordshire, the daughter of William Arthur and Selina Rea. She and her family were living at 67 Dorset Street, Old Radford, in 1911. Bernard and Emma had two children, Selina Mary (b. 1912) and William Arthur (b. 1915). The family lived at 56 Dorset Street, Radford. Emma was still living at 56 Dorset Street in 1939 when the England & Wales Register was compiled. Also in the household were her daughter and son and her widowed mother, Selina Rea. Emma died in July 1980. Bernard's brother William also served in the war and died in Salonika, Greece, in October 1916.
2nd Battalion Leicestershire Regiment Bernard served in Mesopotamia and was killed in action on 7 July 1916. He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Basra Memorial, Mesopotamia (Iraq), Panel 12. CWGC - History of Basra Memorial (extract): 'Until 1997 the Basra Memorial was located on the main quay of the naval dockyard at Maqil, on the west bank of the Shatt-al-Arab, about 8 kilometres north of Basra. Because of the sensitivity of the site, the Memorial was moved by presidential decree. The move, carried out by the authorities in Iraq, involved a considerable amount of manpower, transport costs and sheer engineering on their part, and the Memorial has been re-erected in its entirety. The Basra Memorial is now located 32 kilometres along the road to Nasiriyah, in the middle of what was a major battleground during the first Gulf War.' (www.cwgc.org)
Note: CWGC date of death 7 January, other records give 6 January but it is likely that he was reported missing 6/7 January and his date of death subsequently accepted by the War Office as 7 January. His brother Private William Crow Stenson, 24th Field Bakery Army Service Corps, died in Salonikia, Greece, on 9 October 1916. He is commemorated on Old Basford St Leodegarius memorial. Inscription headstone, Nottingham (New Basford) Cemetery, Nottingham Road: ‘In loving memory of William the beloved husband of Mary Stenson, who entered into (-) Septr. 4th 1907 in his 46th year. Not my will but Thine O Lord (-). Also of the above named Mary Stenson who died June 23rd 1910 aged 46 years.(-) Also of Bernard their son and the beloved husband of Emma Stenson killed in action in Mesopotamia, Jany. 6th 1916 aged 24 years. His duty nobly done.' Nottingham Evening Post, 7 February 1916, photograph with caption: 'Pte. B Stenson, 2nd Leicesters, 56, Dorset Street, Nottingham, killed in action Jan. 6th.’ Nottingham Evening Post, ‘Roll of Honour’, 4, 5 & 7 February 1916: ‘Stenson. Killed in action , January 6th-7th, 1916, Pte. R Stenson, heloved husband of Emma Stenson. He nobly answered his country’s call.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) Probate: Stenson Bernard of 56 Dorset-street Nottingham private in HM Army died 6 January 1916 at Mesopotamia. Administration (with Will) Nottingham 12 April to Emma Stenson widow. Effects £160. WW1 Pension Ledgers: names his widow Emma Stenson, residence Radford, and children Selina Mary and William Arthur. Registers of Soldiers' Effects: his widow Emma was his legatee.
