William Stevenson
- Family History
- Military History
- Extra Information
- Photographs
William was 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. Martin and Kate were living at the same address 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. William'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 William's brothers also died in the war: Private Martin Stevenson, Sherwood Foresters 2nd Bn (20 October 1914), Lance Corporal Arthur Stevenson, Sherwood Foresters 2/7th Bn (26 September 1917) and Private Herbert Francis Stevenson, Highland Light Infantry 9th (Glasgow Hds) Bn (22 October 1918).
William joined the Royal Navy on 13 July 1901 and signed on a 12 year engagement (7 years + 5 in Reserve) at the age of 18 on 5 May 1903. He later extended his engagement. He served in the following ships and shore establishments: HMS Ganges 13 July 1901-29 January 1903 (Boy 2nd Class, Boy 1st Class 17 April 1902); HMS St Vincent, 30 January 1903-11 February 1903; HMS Agincourt, 12 February 1903-8 May 1903 (Ordinary Seamen 5 May 1903); HMS Duke of Wellington, 9 May 1903-13 July 1903; HMS Prince George, 16 July 1903-9 October 1903; HMS Doris, 10 October 1903-13 October 1903; HMS Prince George, 14 October 1903-5 November 1903, (Cells 10 days), 16 November 1903-14 July 1904 (Stoker 2nd Class 1 May 1904); HMS Majestic, 15 July 1904-1 October 1906 (Stoker 1 November 1904, Stoker 1st Class 1 July 1906); Victory II, 2 October 1906-6 November 1906; HMS Royal Arthur, 7 November 1906-25 November 1906, (Cells 6 days), 2 December 1906-3 January 1907, (Cells 7 days), 11 January 1907-12 January 1907; HMS Glory, 13 January 1907-20 April 1909; Victory II, 21 April 1909-15 July 1909; HMS Hecla, 16 July 1909-9 August 1909; HMS Juno, 10 August 1909-10 October 1910; Victory II, 11 October 1910-25 November 1910; HMS Eclipse, 26 November 1910-30 October 1911; Victory II, 31 October 1911-18 January 1912; HMS Tamar, 19 January 1912-15 June 1912; HMS Minotaur, 16 June 1902-7 May 1915 (Acting Ldg Stoker 26 February 1913, Ldg Stoker 19 February 1915, Stoker 1st Class 22 March 1915); HMS Hampshire 8 May 1915-5 June 1916 (Acting Leading Stoker 15 December 1915), Service record is annotated as follows: 26 April 1904 change of rating to stoker approved; disrated by warrant (disobey & contempt). ‘NP4008.1916: DD 5 June 1916 when HMS Hampshire was sunk by a mine.’ He was lost with HMS Hampshire; his body was not recovered for burial and he is commemorated on the Portsmouth Naval Memorial. HMS Hampshire: Immediately after Jutland, HMS Hampshire was ordered to carry Lord Kitchener from Scapa Flow on a diplomatic mission to Russia via the port of Arkhangelsk. Sailing alone in heavy seas, Hampshire was approximately 1.5 mi (2.4 km) off the mainland of Orkney between Brough of Birsay and Marwick Head at 19:40 when an explosion occurred and she heeled to starboard. She had struck one of several mines laid by the German mine laying submarine U-75 on 28/29 May 1916, just before the Battle of Jutland. The detonation had holed the cruiser between bows and bridge, and the lifeboats were smashed against the side of the ship by the heavy seas when they were lowered. About 15 minutes after the explosion, Hampshire sank by the bows. Of the 655 crewmen and 7 passengers aboard, only 12 crewmen on two Carley floats managed to reach the shore alive; Kitchener and his staff were lost.
2 June Nottingham Evening Post notice (abridged), 14 June 1916. 'STEVENSON, Perished in HMS Hampshire, William Stevenson, Leading Stoker, age 31, son of Kate and the late Martin Stevenson, 132 Northgate, New Basford, Mother, sisters, brothers.' Nottingham Post notice (abridged), 22 June 1916. 'AB G Ferriman, 86 Broomhill Road, Bulwell, Leading Stoker W Stevenson, 132 Northgate, New Basford, both lost with HMS Hampshire.' 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. 2016 - A First World War Centenary Wood devised by the Woodland Trust has been planted at Kirkwall, Orkney. The copse will be planted with 746 saplings to commemorate the 737 men lost in HMS Hampshire and also the nine men lost from the drifter Lauren Crown which struck a mine after she was sent to help clear the minefield. 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 commemorated on the Tyne Cot Memorial, Belgium. (a small carton)’
