Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
.He was the grandson of William Bird, a railway platelayer, born 1839 in Leicestershire and his wife Emily Bird, born 1836 in Loddington, Leicestershire. Stephen was born in 1891 in Kibworth, Leicestershire. In 1901 he was residing with his grandparents at High Street, Kibworth, Beauchamp, Leicestershire. Stephen attested into the 3rd Battalion Leicestershire Regiment (Special Reservists) to serve a 6 year engagement on the 19th May 1908 in Leicester. He gave his place of birth as Kibworth, Leicestershire, his age as 18 years and 1 month and his trade or calling as hosiery. He gave his younger brother, William Hunt and his younger sister, Alice Hunt both of Dr. Barnardo’s Homes, London, as his next of kin. His medical examination recorded that he was 5 foot 8 inches in height, weighed 117 pounds, and he had a chest measurement of between 31 and 33½ inches. He gave his religion as Church of England. He was pronounced fit for the Army Reserve on the 19th May 1908 in Leicester. His record of service began when he joined the Depot of the Leicestershire Regiment as a Private, service number 9958 on the 19/5/08. Enlisted into the Leicestershire Regiment as a Regular on the 19/8/08. He completed 92 days service. Stephen attested into the Army on a Short Service (All Arms) engagement of 7 years with the Colours and 5 years in the Reserve on the 18th August 1908 in Leicester. He gave his place of birth as Kibworth, Leicester, his age as 18 years and 4 months, his trade or calling as hosiery and confirmed that he was unmarried. He gave his present home address as c/o Mr Bird of High Street, Kibworth, Leicestershire. He stated that he was currently serving with the 3rd Battalion Leicestershire Regiment (Special Reservists). He gave his younger brother, William Hunt and his younger sister, Alice Hunt both of Dr. Barnardo’s Homes, London, as his next of kin. His medical examination recorded that he was 5 foot 8¼ inches in height, weighed 136 pounds and he had a chest measurement of between 32 and 34½ inches. His complexion was described as fresh, his hair colour was dark brown and he had brown eyes. He gave his religion as Church of England. He was pronounced fit for Army service on the 18th August 1908 in Leicester. His record of service began when he joined the Depot of the Leicestershire Regiment as a Private, service number 8401 on the 19/8/08. Posted to join the 1st Battalion Leicestershire Regiment at Shorncliffe on the 16/9/08. Appointed unpaid Lance Corporal on the 12/3/10. Appointed paid Lance Corporal on the 5/9/10. Posted to Aldershot on the 5/1/10. Deprived of Lance stripe for misconduct on the 10/2/12. Appointed unpaid Lance Corporal on the 2/6/12. Appointed paid Lance Corporal on the 26/5/12. Deprived of Lance stripe for misconduct on the 11/11/12. Posted to Fermoy, Ireland on the -?-. Killed in action on the 25/10/14. Killed in action on the 9/11/14? The following information was provided by Stephen’s fiancée E. N. Cheney of Lubenham, Market Harborough, Leicestershire on the 16th September 1920, and was witnessed and signed by Thomas Plant, Clerk in Holy Orders, Lubenham Vicarage, Market Harborough on ARMY FORM W. 5080 (Information on deceased soldier’s family) Father and mother of soldier, whereabouts unknown. Full blood brothers and sisters of soldier, whereabouts unknown. All correspondence contained in Stephen’s service record was addressed to his fiancée, Miss E. N. Cheney of Mill Hill, Lubenham, Market Harborough, Leicestershire. In 1915 a letter from the Officer in charge of Records, No. 6 District, Lichfield, was forwarded together with Stephen’s personal belongings to his fiancée Miss E. N. Cheney, the items listed were, 3 letters, 2 certificates of education, 4 post cards, 1 promotion certificate, 1 book, 1 metal watch, stamps 5½d and 1 belt. A letter of acknowledgement from Miss Cheney records: Dear Sirs, I received the things of late Private Stephen Hunt, thanking you very much in forwarding them to me. Yours Truly, E. N. Cheney. Stephen was awarded the 1914 Star, British and Victory medal’s, these were all forwarded to his fiancée Miss E. N. Cheney. Stephen’s surviving service documents are in a very poor condition, and much of the finer detail relating to the period of time that he spent in the army, is either illegible or missing, hence the sparse overall description of his military and personal family history.
The War Diary records: 25 Oct-14 - The Battalion had relieved the West Yorkshire Regiment on the 21st October at the Chemical Factory at Rue du Bois, the Germans had attempted to rush the trenches at dawn, but were beaten back with great loss, shelled intermittently all day. 2 Platoon of “D” Company were driven out by enfilade fire at about 9.00am, but retrieved the position by dusk, ordered to retire during night. Trench line was reinforced by 1 Company East Yorkshire Regiment and 2 Platoons of the Rifle Brigade during the day. “A” Company’s line was not seriously attacked. Casualties two Officers wounded, twenty two Other Ranks killed, sixty eight wounded and ninety eight missing.
On Saturday January 9th 1915 The Leicester Chronicle and Leicestershire Mercury published the following article under the heading. “LOSSES IN THE LEICESTERSHIRE REGIMENT.” – The following casualties in the Leicestershire Regiment are announced. – MISSING. Private S. Hunt.