Photo: Pauline Priano
Pauline Priano has submitted the following:-
Edwin Stephens, was one of 11 children, offspring of William Stephens and Susan Ellen Bennetta, born at Saint Blazey and Tywardreath in 1852 respectively, within 1 mile of each other, in Cornwall. Married at St. Austell, February 27th 1872, by 1881, they had 5 children, Rose in 1874, Eda 1875, Arthur 1876 and Fred 1877, born at St. Blazey before the family migrated to the north of England settling at Millom, Cumberland, where Albert was born, May 12th 1880. Living at 14, Lonsdale Road, in the village of Millom, William supported his family employed as an iron miner. They had moved to Surrey Street by 1891 and Susan Ellen had given birth to a further 3 children, Maud 1881, Lily 1885 and Edwin in 1886, whilst her elder children had all left home. Albert (15) and Fred (14) had both left school and found employment as a newsboy and office boy respectively, however, their younger siblings were scholars, William the youngest of their siblings was born in 1896 but unfortunately over the years Susan Ellen had also lost 3 of her children at a tender age. Albert by the age of 20 had joined his father as an iron ore miner, Edwin (13) worked as a bricklayer's labourer, but Edwin between 1901 and 1911 moved to the north east of England joining his brother Arthur who was living at Whorlton, Northumberland.
Edwin Stephens formed a union with Elizabeth Ann Smith, of Walbottle, born April 6th 1887, who had an illegitimate child of her own, Norman Leslie Smith, born February 4th 1907 in the district of Castle Ward, Northumberland. In the census of 1911 Elizabeth Ann is listed as his wife of 2 years although no record of marriage has been found, Norman Leslie (4) as his son, surname Stephens and their daughter Irene Stephens, born August 29th 1909, listed in error as Jane. They were living at 4, North Avenue, Westerhope where Edwin was a coal miner/shifter. William Stephens was born December 11th 1911 and Edwin Jnr July 29th 1914. Within 6 days of his birth the British Empire declared a state of war existed with Germany.
Edwin Snr was one of the first to enlist upon the raising of new regimental battalions after war was declared August 4th 1914. He was assigned as Private 344 to the 20th (1st Tyneside Scottish) Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers, formed at Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Northumberland, October 14th 1914, a Pals Battalion, part of Kitchener’s New Armies. A further 3 battalions were raised and the recruits trained at Newcastle before moving to Alnwick camp in the grounds of Alnwick Castle, Northumberland, January 29th 1915, then on to Ripon, Yorkshire, in June 1915 where the 20th/21st/22nd and 23rd Battalions formed the 102nd Brigade, 34th Division, and transferred to Salisbury Plain for final training in late August 1915.
Private Stephens departed with his regiment January 9th 1916 attached to the 34th Division which congregated at La Crosse, east of St Omer. After a period of trench familiarisation they made their way to the Somme in preparation for the forthcoming battles. The opening battle of the Somme due to commence June 29th 1916 was delayed until July 1st by bad weather. The 20th Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers were in action on the first day during the Battle of Albert. At 7.28am two huge mines were detonated under the German lines, one to the south and one to the north of the village of La Boisselle which signalled the beginning of the attack. The 20th Battalion had 500 yards to cover under heavy machine gun fire, nevertheless, capturing Scots and Sausage Redoubts. The battalion lost 26 officers and 564 men.
Initially reported as missing, after extensive investigations as to his whereabouts, the now Sergeant 344 Edwin Stephens Northumberland Fusiliers, was struck off and his widow informed, August 8th 1916, that it was accepted he had been killed in action, July 1st 1916. His sacrifice is recorded as one of the 72,318 names of British and South African forces inscribed on the Thiepval Memorial to the Missing of the Somme, Thiepval, France, commemorating those who died on the Somme before March 1918 and who have no known grave. He was 29 years of age.
His widow received all monies due to him from the Army, his awards of the British War Medal and Victory Medal, also a pension of 23 shillings 6 pence awarded March 6th 1917 to be paid weekly as of March 12th 1917 for herself, their 3 children and after providing proof that Edwin had taken responsibility for her child Norman Leslie he too was included. This was received until each child in turn reached the age of 16-years.
Edwin’s father William Stephens died at Bootle, Cumberland, during the first quarter (Jan/Feb/Mar) 1919, aged 68 years, his mother Susan Ellen Stephens nee Bennetta aged 78 years in 1931, his brother Arthur in the district of Castle Ward, Northumberland, including Westerhope, in 1936 aged 59 years.
Elizabeth Ann Stephens did not re-marry, however, she did have another child, Mabel born January 20th 1921, district of Castle Ward, Northumberland. In 1939 she was living at 20, North Avenue, Westerhope, where sons William and Edwin Jnr were employed at the colliery as a filler and pony putter below ground, Mabel was a shop assistant at a grocery store.
Elizabeth Ann Stephens died aged 77 years in 1965 registered at Northumberland South.
Details as regards Edwin and Elizabeth Ann’s children are as yet unknown, however, Mabel Stephens married Archibald Hewitt in 1940, district of Northumberland.
In God’s safe keeping. Rest In peace.
Edwin Stephens is remembered at Whorlton on W53.01
