Arthur Stevenson
- Family History
- Military History
- Extra Information
- Photographs
Arthur was born about 1887, the son of Martin and Kate Stevenson. Martin and Kate (nee Shaw) were married in Nottingham in 1881 (Jul/Aug/Sep) and had nine children: Ada, John, William, Arthur, Martin, Ethel Maud, Elsie, Ernest and Herbert Francis, all of whom were still living at the time of the 1911 census. In 1891 Martin, a lace machine fitter, was living at 40 Wycliffe (-) Court, Basford, with his wife and their six children, Ada (9), John (8), William (5), Arthur (4), Martin (1) and Ethel (1 month). Ten years later in 1901 the family was living at 25 Osberton Street, Basford, and eight of their children were in the household on the night of the census: John, William, Arthur, Martin, Ethel, Elsie (6), Ernest (5) and Herbert (2). William joined the Royal Navy four months later in July 1901. Arthur's parents were still living at Osberton Street in 1911 but only their four youngest children were still at home; Ethel, Elsie, Ernest and Herbert. Herbert was still at school but his siblings all worked in the lace industry. Martin had joined the army some years before. Arthur married Ellen Webster in 1910 (Oct/Nov/Dec) and in 1911 they were living with their one month old daughter, Ethel Alice, at 30 Queen Street, Old Basford. The notice of Arthur's death in the local paper in 1917 records that he had two children; it is likely that the second child was a son, Arthur, who was born in 1913 (Apr/May/Jun). The notice of Arthur's death gives their address as Buckingham Terrace (Basford). It is possible that Arthur's widow remarried as there are several records of the marriage of an Ellen Stevenson in the years immediately after Arthur's death. Arthur's father died on 21 April 1916 at the age of 55 and his mother in 1944 aged 83. After his father's death his mother moved to 132 Northgate, Old Basford. Three of Arthur's brothers also died in the war: Private Martin Stevenson, Sherwood Foresters 2nd Bn, 20 October 1914; Leading Stoker William Stevenson, Royal Navy, HMS Hampshire, 5 June 1916 and Private Herbert Francis Stevenson, Highland Light Infantry 9th Bn, 22 October 1918.
Tyne Cot Cemetery, Grave Reference: XII E 6
Nottingham Evening Post notice (abridged) 24 October 1917: 'Stevenson. Killed in action September 26th, Lance Corporal A Stevenson, husband of Nelly, Buckingham Terrace. Wife and two children. Third son killed of Kate and the late Martin Stevenson, 132 Northgate, New Basford.' Probate: Stevenson Martin of 25 Osberton-street New Basford Nottingham machine smith died 21 April 1916 Administration (with Will) Nottingham 19 May to Kate Stevenson widow. Effects £194 11s. www.the-saleroom.com/en-gb/auction-catalogues (Dominic Winter Auctions. Lot closed13 May 2016) ‘An emotive WWI family group to five brothers, four died during the Great War, A group of five to Warrant Officer J Stevenson, Royal Artillery, India General Service 1908-35, E.VII.R., one clasp, North West Frontier 1908 (19406 Bombr J. Stevenson. 18th By. R.F.A.), 1914 Star and Bar (19408 Cpl J. Stevenson. R.F.A.), British War and Victory Medals (19406. W.O.Cl.2. J. Stevenson. R.A.), Army Long Service & G.C., G.V.R. (19406. W.O.Cl.1. J. Stevenson. R.F.A.), good very fine, mounted for wearing, together with various monochrome photographs of the recipient in uniform, original document including Warrant dated 1918, Character Certificate, "The Small Book" and Certificate of Discharge plus Four Bronze Memorial Plaques (Herbert Stevenson / William Stevenson / Martin Stevenson / Arthur Stevenson) 19406 Warrant Officer John Stevenson, born in Basford, Nottinghamshire 1883, enlisted with the Royal Field Artillery in Nottingham in 1901, served in India and injured in Lahore on 9 October 1907 (dislocation left clavicle & fractured ribs right hand-side) promoted to Corporal in 1910, discharged 10 November 1919 after 18 years 28 days with the Colours, entitled to a Russian Cross of the Order of St George, 4th Class. 10064 Private Martin Stevenson served during WWI with 2nd Battalion Notts & Derby Regiment, reported missing in killed in action 20.10.1914, Stevenson is commemorated on the Ploegsteert Memorial, Belgium. 333891 Private Herbert Francis Stevenson served during WWI with 9th Battalion, Highland Light Infantry, taken prisoner of war on 13.4.1917 and died of pneumonia 22.10.1918, Stevenson is buried in Erquelinnes Communal Cemetery, Belgium. 215529 Leading Stoker William Stevenson, served during WWI with the Royal Navy, he on 5 June 1916 whilst serving in HMS Hampshire, 643 sailors along with the Secretary of State for War Field Marshal Lord Kitchener were lost when the ship was sunk by a mine en route to Russia, Stevenson is commemorated on the Portsmouth Naval Memorial. Lance Corporal Arthur Stevenson served during WWI with 2/7th Sherwood Foresters killed in action 26/9/1917, Stevenson is buried in Tyne Cot Cemetery, Belgium.
