William Stephenson
- Family History
- Military History
- Extra Information
- Photographs
William Stephenson was born in 1882 at Nottingham and was the son of William Morley Stephenson a shoe finisher and Eva Stephenson née Loasby 2 Albert Terrace, Wadcroft, Kettering. His father William Morley Stephenson was born in 1861 at Nottingham, his mother Eva Loasby was born in 1860 in Kettering, they were married in 1881 at Nottingham and went on to have the following children, William b1882, Fred b1887, Daisy b1889, John Henry b1892, Robert Edwin b1893, Annie b1895 and Morley Richard b1899 all were born in Kettering. William married his wife May Emma Weston Sparling (b1888 Nottingham) in 1909 at Newark, they lived at 35 Lenton Street, Hyson Green, Nottingham. In the 1911 census the family were living at 71 William Street, Newark and were shown as William 29 yrs a professional golfer, he is living with his wife May 23 yrs and their daughter Maise 8 months of age. They went on to have further children, William Trevor b1911, Harold b1914 and Yvonne b1916 all were born in Nottingham.
Private William Stephenson enlisted at Newark and served with the 24th (Service) Bn (2nd Sportsman's) Royal Fusiliers. He was killed in action on the opening day of the Battle of the Somme, 1st July 1916. He is buried at Cabaret-Rouge British Cemetery, Souchez, Pas de Calais, France.
His brother Robert Edwin Stephenson of the 1st battalion Northamptonshire Regiment was also killed in the Great War , he died on 9th May 1915. Article published 2nd August 1916 in the Newark Advertiser :- Husband of May Stephenson, 24 Windsor Terrace, Hyson Green, Nottingham. The former professional of the Newark Golf Club. Enlisted some time after the outbreak of war in the Sportsmen’s Battalion and went to France more than a year ago. Hit in the back by shrapnel, important arteries being severed, and died within minutes. He was of most cheery character and generous to a fault. Leaves a widow and four children, the eldest being not yet 7 years old and the youngest only 5 weeks.
