William Duncan Stevens
- Family History
- Military History
- Extra Information
- Photographs
William was born in 1891 the youngest child of Alfred and Florence Stevens.Alfred Stevens and Florence Baker were married in 1885 (J/A/S Nottingham) and were to have three children, Alfred Leslie (3 February 1887), Florence Ida (b. 13 June 1888) and William Duncan (birth registered 1891, A/M/J Nottingham).Alfred was a tailor, and in 1891 he and Florence were living at 150 Alfreton Road, Nottingham, with their first child, Alfred (4). They employed a domestic servant, Elizabeth Marriott (16).By 1901 Alfred (38) and Florence (38) and their three children, Alfred (14), Florence (12) and William (9) were living at 50 Burns Street, Nottingham. They employed one domestic servant, Edith Bradshaw (19).In 1911 they were at 1 Sherwood Rise, Nottingham, and only their eldest son, Alfred (24) was at home on the night of the census. The family now had two servants, Annie Webster (24) a cook, and Mabel Langford (18) a housemaid. William and Florence have not yet been traced on the 1911 Census, but Florence married Albert Edward Spowage in 1912 (marriage registered O/N/D Nottingham).Their parents later lived at 4 Third Avenue, Sherwood Rise, Nottingham, and this was given as the address of both William and Alfred at the time of their deaths in 1916 and 1917 respectively.William's brother, Lieutenant Alfred Leslie Stevens, 1st Bn Leicestershire Regiment, was killed in France on 18 April 1917 aged 30 (Loos Memorial).Their father, Alfred, died on 10 October 1939. Their sister, Florence Ida Spowage, died on 9 June 1971 at the age of 83.
He was killed near Ypres. 29th Bn War Diary (see photograph): '30 May Lieut WD Stevens killed by direct hit on his dugout in (-) Fort in the early morning. 31 May Lieut WD Stevens buried in the morning at Reninghelst cemetery.' He is buried in Reninghelst New Military Cemetery (Grave Ref I. D. 19)
Nottingham Post notice (abridged), 7 June 1916: 'Stevens. Killed in action May 30th, Lieutenant William Duncan of the Canadian Infantry, younger son of Alfred Stevens, Third Avenue, age 25.'Inscription family headstone, Nottingham (Church) Cemetery: '(Also) Lieut Alfred Leslie [Stevens] reporting missing at Bethune April 18th 1917 aged 30 and Lieut William Duncan [Stevens] killed at Vormezeele May 30th 1916 aged 25 interred at Reninghelst. Sons of Alfred and Florence Stevens.'Probate: Stevens William Duncan of 4 Third-avenue Sherwood Rise Nottinghamshire lieutenant in HM Army died 30 May 1916 in France Probate Nottingham 18 July to Alfred Stevens tailor. Effects £327 3s.Probate: Stevens Alfred of 4 Third-avenue Nottingham died 10 October 1939 Probate Nottingham 4 March to Florence Ida Spowage (wife of Albert Edward Spowage). Effects £15768 18s. 3d.His parents donated a holy table and plate to St Nicholas in memory of their two sons. The inscription on the table read, “To the Glory of God this Holy Table was presented by Mr & Mrs Stevens in memory of their two only sons Alfred Leslie and William Duncan who laid down their lives in the Great War 1914-1919.” (Petition dated 4 August 1920 and Faculty dated 26 November 1920.)
