Pauline Priano has submitted the following:-
John Allan Stephenson was the youngest of 3 brothers born to John Albert Stephenson and Mary Ellen Thirlwell. John Albert born December 2nd 1865 at Preston, Yorkshire, was brought to the north east by his parents, Mary Ellen although born in Allendale, Northumberland in 1869 was living with her family at Stanhope, County Durham, in 1881. The couple were married in Weardale in 1892, son Gladstone Dawson Stephenson was born at Stanhope, May 17th 1892, Zaacheus at Consett in 1895 and John Allan during the 1st quarter (Jan/Feb/Mar) 1898 at Castleside, all in County Durham. Mary Ellen Stephenson nee Thirlwell died during the same quarter as the birth of her son either during childbirth or soon after, she was 29 years of age.
In 1901 John, working for his own account as a freestone quarryman, was living with his children at 4, Consett Road, Castleside, and employed a domestic servant, 33-year-old Mary Hetherington. The following year he was married in the district of Lanchester to Hannah Bewick, native of Westgate, County Durham, born June 17th 1863. and with whom he had a son, September 16th 1906, James Henry. In 1911 John Alfred was employed as a quarryman, living in 8 rooms at Front Street, Castleside, the home of his brother John Henry (51) a fruiterer for his own account, his brother George (42) a lead smelter employed by Healeyfield Lead Mill, his married sister Maggie Luthead (40), her son Frank (16), nephew Gladstone (18) also a quarryman at Healeyfield quarry and sister Florrie (35), single. His wife Hannah and sons Zaacheus (16), John Allan (13) and James Henry (4) occupied 6 rooms at Hill Top House, Egglestone in Teeside.
When war was declared with Germany in 1914 John Allan was only 16 years of age, too young to enlist. At the time of his enlistment at Bishop Auckland, County Durham he was 18 years of age and living at Leyburn, Yorkshire. Assigned as Private 30592, Lincolnshire Regiment, after a period of training he departed to the front as of April 1917, once he had turned 19 years of age and became eligible for overseas service. He joined the 8th Battalion attached to the 63rd Brigade, 37th Division, which was involved in the Battles of Arras, April 9th-May 16th 1917, capturing the village of Monchy-le-Preux, during the 1st Battle of the Scarpe and by July had moved to Belgium for the commencement of the 3rd Battle of Ypres, July 1st-November 10th 1917. They fought at the Battle of Menin Road, Polygon Wood, Broodseinde, Poelcappelle and the 1st and 2nd Battles of Passchendaele.
Private 30592 John Allan Stephenson died of wounds on the battlefield, October 5th 1917 and taken to Voormezeele Enclosure No.1 and No.2 for burial grave I. K. 34. He was 19 years of age and single.
His father received all monies due to him from Army and his awards of the British War Medal and Victory Medal, sent to him at, “Sunneholme,” Preston-under-Scar, Leyburn, Yorkshire and commissioned at a cost of 8 shillings 9 pence an additional inscription to be added to his son’s military headstone, it reads, “Loyal & True, To God, Parents & Country.”
In 1939 John Albert had retired, his wife Hannah was an invalid and Gladstone who lived with them at “Sunneholme,” was employed as a limestone quarryman.
Zaccheus Stephenson had married in 1930 in the district of Leyburn to Margaret T Jones, and had died, district of York, in 1934 aged 39 years.
Hannah Stephenson nee Bewick died in 1945 aged 81 years, John Albert in 1952 aged 86 years, both deaths registered in the district of Wensleydale, West Riding Yorkshire.
Gladstone Dawson Stephenson died in 1966 aged 76 years, his brother James Henry aged 72 years in 1978 both district of Northallerton, North Yorkshire.
In God's safe keeping. Rest In Peace.
John Allan Stephenson is remembered at Castleside on C113.01 and C113.05
