Harold Frederick Stevens
- Family History
- Military History
- Extra Information
- Photographs
Harold Frederick Stevens was born in 1896 the son of Frederick John and Sarah Matilda Stevens (née Henderson) of 2, Claremont Terrace, Francis Street, Nottingham. His parents married in 1894 in Nottingham and had a further son Arthur Leslie Hudson Stevens born 1897 in Aslockton. Frederick died in 1896 aged 31. In 1901, Harold lived with his grandfather, Robert Hudson, his mother and brother Arthur Leslie Hudson, at Aslockton. In 1911, he lived with his mother and brother at Aslockton. Also at the address was his 87 year old grandfather Robert Henderson, a widowed plumber.
122nd Coy Harold Frederick Stevens, attested 15th September 1914 at Nottingham. He was posted as 2591 Private to ‘B’ Company, 7th (Reserve) Battalion, Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire Regiment, renamed 2nd / 7th Battalion Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire Regiment, 176th Brigade, 59th (2nd North Midland) Division. He was admitted to Watford War Hospital 20th November 1915 and discharged 29th November 1915. He moved to Ireland in April 1916. He was discharged from the territorial forces 14th August 1916 and transferred to the Machine Gun Corps 15th August 1916, arriving in France 13th September 1916. He was posted to 5th MGC Base Depot at Camiers 14th September 1916 and posted to 122nd Company MGC 19th September 1916. He was sent to hospital sick 17th October 1916 and rejoined his company 18th October 1916. He was admitted to 140th Field Ambulance with influenza 8th November 1916 and then onto 41 DRS with influenza 10th November 1916. He attended a course at Steenvoorde 3rd-7th April 1917 and was posted to H Anti-Aircraft Battery for a course on aircraft recognition 10th July 1917. He was appointed unpaid Lance Corporal 16th July 1917. He rejoined his company 18th July 1917. He won the Military Medal for conspicuous courage at the Battle of Messines, July 1917. He was killed in action and is buried Zantvoorde British Cemetery, Grave Reference: V.H.9
War Diary on Day of Death: 31st July 1917 White Chateau The Brigade attacked to establish a line running from the canal, SOUTH EAST OF HOLLEBEKE and SOUTH EAST OF FORRET FARM. No.2 & 3 Sections under 2/Lt. Hale, 2/Lt. Towlson and 2/Lt. Horler followed 11th RWK & 18th KRRC to consolidate the strong points already decided upon, the guns with the left Battalion arrived at their correct positions, but owing to a certain obscurity of the situation on the right, the right guns did not arrive until much later – and that after 2/Lt. Horler [Second Lieutenant Edwin Horler buried Voormezeele Enclosures No.1 & No.2] had been killed and 2/Lt. Towlson badly wounded. It was then found that the two forward guns were in advance of the infantry, they accordingly withdrew one gun to a point at O11 c 5 7 the other returned to Company Headquarters as both the team & ? boxes had been practically destroyed by shellfire. As the situation was far from clear, I decided to keep the gun with me; this left me with four guns in the RED LINE & two only in the GREEN LINE. [Lance Corporal Stevens was the only other fatality in the Company that day] Military distinctions, All Saints Church News, September 1917: 'We are proud to be able to record this month that three of the communicants of our church have been awarded military distinctions for conspicuous bravery ... Lance Corporal Harold Stevens was awarded the MM a fortnight before his death in action War obituary, All Saints Church News, September 1917: Harold Frederick Stevens, 2 Claremont Terrace, Lance Corporal Sherwood Foresters, enlisted September 1915, killed in action Belgian Flanders July 31st 1917, won the Military Medal for conspicuous courage at the Battle of Messines July 1917. Communicant of our church, Men’s Bible Class member; his only brother is a prisoner in Germany, his mother is a widow.'
