On the Menin Gate to the Missing at Ypres, Belgium, is the name of 573 Shoeing Smith George Stephenson, serving with the Northumberland Hussars who died 06/11/1914.
Pauline Priano has submitted the following:-
George Stephenson was born 1887 at Lamesley, County Durham, one of 11 children, 5 sons and 6 daughters, of whom only 8 survived. He was the son of Joseph Stephenson born 1850 at Todd Hills, near Consett and his wife Mary Jane Davison native of Hetton, near Lanchester born 1855, they were married August 15th 1884 at Durham Registry Office. His father worked initially as a joiner at the colliery for best part of 20 years, moving from Lintz Colliery at Tanfield near Lanchester to Team Colliery near Lamesley both in County Durham. In 1901 he was employed as an engine wright at Heworth Colliery, his son Joseph was a putter, George an apprentice blacksmith, Thomas was still at school. Ten years later the situation for Joseph was unchanged but George was now a qualified blacksmith working at the colliery. He married Frances Newton in the district of Gateshead, June 1914, just prior to his mobilisation.
George enlisted January 5th 1912, due to his experience as a blacksmith he was assigned as Shoeing Smith 573 to the Northumberland Hussars Yeomanry, H. Q. at Northumberland Road, Newcastle upon Tyne and formed of 4 squadrons. The 1/1st was the first to see action on the Western Front having moved first to Lyndhurst, Hampshire and placed under the orders of the 7th Division, October 6th 1914 they landed at Zeebrugge, Belgium. Ordered to assist in the defence of Antwerp by the time they arrived the city was already falling and the 7th Division was instead ordered to hold certain important bridges and other places that would help the evacuation of the Belgian army. Once the Belgians were through, the Division was moved to the west, where the infantry entrenched in front of Ypres, the first British troops to occupy that area. Little more than 4 weeks after his arrival Shoeing Smith 573 George Stephenson Northumberland Hussars Yeomanry was killed in action in the Ypres salient, Belgium.
His name is one of 54,395 inscribed on the on the Menin Gate to the Missing which stand in the town of Ypres, Belgium, commemorating servicemen from Great Britain and the Commonwealth who died on the Ypres salient before and including August 15th 1917 and have no known grave.
His widow Frances received all monies due to him, a pension and his awards of the 1914/15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal. George was 27 years old.
Two of his brothers also served; John William Stephenson aged 40 years, married to Mary Jane Robinson, native of Wolsingham, December 13rd 1897, with a daughter Blanche born at Stanhope September 25th 1901, left his employment as a quarryman and enlisted as Private 2292 assigned to the Durham Light Infantry, September 15th 1914. He declared he had previously served with the 6th Battalion for 18 years with broken periods and was again placed with the Battalion on September 5th but transferred to the reserves January 30th 1915. April 19th 1915 he was drafted to France with the British Expeditionary Force landing at Boulogne where the Battalion was attached to the 151st Brigade, 50th Northumbrian Division. Transferred to Class W, services deemed to be more valuable to the country in civil occupation, December 25th 1916 Private Stephenson was sent back to England and resumed his employment with Messieurs. Consett Iron Company Limited, County Durham with the obligation of recall if required. September 14th 1917 he was discharged as no longer physically fit for war service. Awarded the 1914/15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal he also received a pension back dated to January 17th 1917. Date of death unknown.
Thomas Stephenson was assigned as Private 278 18th Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers and was killed in action in France August 17th 1916, interred grave II. A. 10 at Les Quatre-Vents Military Cemetery, Estree-Cauchy, Pas de Calais, France. Recipient of the British War Medal and Victory Medal, he was 27 years old.
In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.
His death was reported in Heslop’s Local Advertiser 18/12/1914.
George Stephenson is remembered at Bill Quay on B119.02 and at Heworth on H92.03 and H92.04
