Charles William Stephenson

Enlisted November 1914 Nottingham Joined 2nd/1st Nottinghamshire Battery Royal Horse Artillery (T.F) Possibly posted overseas with the Battery in June 1917, the Battery arriving at Basra on 13 August 1917 He died in Mesopotamia and buried in Baghdad (North Gate) Cemetery.

There appears to be some confusion as to whom this man is. His no. rank and unit are not doubted but the personal details are disputed. According to the CWGC, he is 612451 Lance Bombardier C W Stephenson of 2nd/1st Nottinghamshire Battery RHA, although the Graves Registration Report list him as 612451 Driver G Stephenson Motor Battery RHA SDGW list him as 612451 Acting Bombardier Charles William Stephenson and has him having been born at Nottingham and enlisted Nottingham Register of Soldiers Effects lists him as Lance Bombardier Charles William Stephenson of 2nd/1st Nottinghamshire Battery RHA and adds that his sole beneficiary was his mother Hiles Ellen. Medal Index Card and Medal Roll lists name as Harold William Stephenson There was a Charles William Stephenson on Census born Nottingham Second Quarter 1886. He appears to be the only Charles William Stephenson born in Nottingham. On 1891 Census he was living with his parents and siblings at 4 Cranmer Grove, St Ann's, Nottingham. By the 1901 Census, the family had moved to Prescot in Lancashire and are still there on the 1911 Census. However, his parents are listed as Thomas and Elizabeth which does not agreed with Register of Soldiers Effects The clue may lay in the unusual name of his mother – Hiles Ellen. Ancestry only shows one Hiles Ellen Stephenson, she is shown on 1901 Census married to George Stephenson, living at Grainthorpe in Lincolnshire with children - Wilfred Ewart, Ethel M, Charles W, George Donald and Alfred Henry. Her husband is a tailor. This Charles W Stephenson ties in with a Charles William Stephenson born Third Quarter 1892 with the birth registered at Louth, Lincolnshire. On 1911 Census she is living with her husband George at High Street, Wainfleet, Lincolnshire and children Wilfred Ewart, George Donald , Alfred Henry and Albert Edward. Her husband is a tailor. Her son Charles is shown as living at 20 Hartley Street, Boston and working as an assistant to gent’s hosiery Given his mothers details, it is believed that, whilst he may have enlisted in Nottingham, it is probable that he is the Charles William Stephenson born in Grainthorpe and resident in Boston in 1911 Remembered at the Zion United Methodist Church War Memorial, Boston, but not remembered on the Grainthorpe or Boston War Memorials His brother 12218 Private George Donald Stephenson was killed in action whilst serving with 8th Battalion, Lincolnshire Regiment on 26th September 1915. He is commemorated on the Loos Memorial Panels 31 to 34. He is listed as son of George and Hiles Ellen Stephenson, of 11, Sydney Street, Boston, Lincolnshire