Pozieres Memorial
Pauline Priano has submitted the following:-
Stephen Greener one of 7 children, was the youngest of 4 brothers and had 2 elder and 1 younger sisters. His father Thomas Greener was born in 1858 at South Shields, County Durham, as was his mother Eliza Jane Cowell, November 18th 1860 and baptised at St Hilda’s, November 30th. Prior to their marriage Eliza Jane was employed by the Greener family as a general servant at 144, Cleveland Street, Westoe, South Shields, she and Thomas were married at St. Hilda’s, July 24th 1881 and remained in the South Shields area all their lives. Their son Thomas Jnr was born in 1881, David 1887, Mary Ann 1889, John 1892, Beatrice 1895, Stephen 1898 and Georgina in 1901, while they were living at 53, Grange Street. Thomas was employed as a ship plater and although only 14 years of age David worked below ground as a trap-man at the coal mine. By 1911 the Greener family were living in 3 rooms at 10, Cornwallis Lane, Thomas Snr and David (24) were both employed at the ship yard as boilermakers, John (19) as a rivet heater, Beatrice (16) assisted her mother at home, Stephen (12) and Georgina (10) were scholars, Mary Ann, married to coal miner Edward Elliott Cowie, with two young children was living at 13, Ryman’s Street, Wheatley Hill, County Durham.
When war was declared with Germany, August 4th 1914 Stephen was only 16 years of age, well below the age of enlistment, however, with the prolonging of hostilities he became eligible to enlist in 1916 and for service overseas between July-September 1917. He enlisted at South Shields, exact date unknown, and was firstly assigned to the Lincolnshire Regiment as Private 30750 and transferred to the 1st Battalion Notts & Derby Sherwood Foresters as Private 71954, unfortunately his military record has not been found. The 1st Battalion Notts & Derby Regiment attached to the 24th Brigade, 8th Division in late 1917 was involved in the Battle of Pilkem Ridge July 31st-August 2nd, the Battle of Langermarck August 16th-18th, the battalion then returned to the Somme during March 1918.
Private 71954 Stephen Greener was reported as missing, his next of kin informed. After extensive investigations as to his whereabouts he was stuck off and declared to have presumed to have died in action, March 26th 1918. His sacrifice is recorded as one of the 14,709 names inscribed on the Pozieres Memorial, Somme, France, which forms the sides and back wall enclosing Pozieres Cemetery, commemorating those who fell in the sector between March 21st-August 7th 1918.
As his sole legitimate beneficiary his mother Eliza Jane received all monies due to him and his awards of the British War Medal and Victory Medal sent to her at 10, Cornwallis Lane, South Shields. His death came 6 months almost to the day after that of his older brother, John, killed in action on the Ypres salient in Belgium. His sister Mary Ann Cowie nee Greener died in 1919 leaving a widower and 3 children.
Thomas Greener died June 18th 1924 aged 65 years, Eliza Jane Greener nee Cowell aged 70 years in 1930, both registered in the district of South Shields, County Durham.
In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.
Stephen Greener is remembered at South Shields on S86.039 and S86.115
