Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of William Stevens, a canal labourer, born 1867 in Hickling, Nottinghamshire and his wife Eliza Ann Stevens (nee Smith, married on the 22nd September 1890 in the Parish Church, Harby), born 1869 in Harby, Leicestershire. Thomas Leonard was born in the 3rd quarter of 1895 in Harby, and was baptised on the 9th February 1896 in the Parish Church, Harby, his siblings were, Walter Sydney, born 1894 and William Henry, born 1898, in March 1901 the family home was at Stathern Road, Harby. In April 1911 Thomas was absent from the family home at Barkestone, Leicestershire, residing there was his father, a canal labourer, his mother and siblings, William, a schoolboy, Arthur Reginald, a schoolboy, born 1904, Elsie May, a schoolgirl, born 1906, Winifred Alice, born 1907 and George Alfred, born 1908, the latter four siblings were all born in Plungar, Leicestershire and Albert Leslie, born 1911 in Barkestone le Vale, Thomas was employed by Mr. John Clements, a farmer as a domestic farm servant and was residing as a servant at Plungar.
Thomas attested into the Canadian Over-Seas Expeditionary Force on the 1st March 1918 in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. He gave his present address as 548, Toronto Street, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, his date and place of birth as the 15th June 1894 in Leicestershire, England and his trade or calling as labourer. He confirmed that he was unmarried, and gave his religion as Presbyterian and his mother, Mrs. Eliza Stevens of Barkestone Leicestershire, England as his next of kin. His medical examination recorded that he was 5 foot 8 inches in height and he had a chest measurement of between 33 and 34½ inches. His complexion was described as ruddy, his hair colour was brown and he had dark brown eyes.
The War Diary records: 1 Oct 1918 – CAMBRAI. Ref.57c N.E. 1-20,000. 51A. S.W. 1,20,000.
00.30. Brigade Operation Order No. 2020 received for the attack on the morning of the 1st. This operation order in so far as the 43rd Canadian Battalion is concerned does not correspond in some particulars with the verbal orders given on the basis of which the attack was launched.
04.00. The Commanding Officer went forward and opened with Intelligence and Scout Officers an advanced Headquarters at S.20.c.3.2.
05.00. Battalion jumped off. Company Commanders in the attack were:-
“A” Company – Lieutenant THOMPSON.
“B” Company – Lieutenant McINTOSH.
“C” Company – Lieutenant JACKSON.
“D” Company – Captain SMART, M.C.
10.00. Report from Lieutenant SCOTT “A” Company, that he was holding a position at approximately S.28.b.00.50 with remainder of 3 and 4 platoons – about 15 men -; that “C” Company had passed through and said to be 600 yards in advance and in need of reinforcements.
10.30. Report from Lieutenant W. N. SMITH, “M” Battery, 3rd CANADIAN MACHINE GUN BATTALION, timed 9.45 am that he was moving forward with 5 guns to S.22.b.00.50 – to support the left flank in the event of a counter-attack.
11.15. Instructions from General Officer Commanding to Commanding Officer to keep artillery pushing forward, get in touch with 52nd Battalion, and if necessary take hold of the 116th Battalion, as the Commanding Officer of that Battalion had been wounded.
11.30. Report from Officer Commanding “A” Company timed 10.45 that he was holding trench system in S.22.d with 12 men including 4 of the 52nd and one Light Gun, the system of fortified shell holes between S.22.a and S.16.c occupied by Canadian troops, - units unknown, -. Reconnaissance prevented by heavy Machine Gun fire from MORENCHIES WOOD and sniping from the Canal.
11.45. Report from Officer Commanding “C” Company timed 11.00 that his Company badly disorganised was holding a position in rear of road through S.23.a that he had been unable to move down the road owing to machine Gun fire from front and both flanks.
12.45. Report from Officer Commanding “B” Company timed 12.05 that the ridge 75 contour was held from S.22.a to S.17.c elements of our Companies scattered over it mixed with groups of men from other units of the Brigade, he had such men as he had been able to gather in the practice trench at S.22.c.8.6 with 3rd Battalion Machine Gunners in position, heavy Machine Gun fire from MORENCHIES WOOD and from RAMILLIES: hostile artillery also very active. Battalion Headquarters moved up and joined the Commanding Officer at S.26.a.6.3. Counter attack reported to have taken place against the Division on our left.
15.00. The whole of the left flank of the Corps was observed moving slowly back, apparently without reason and without leaders. Battalion Headquarters stood to arms and information passed on to Brigade. Word was passed to various units Headquarters. Officers sent out to stop the retirement and 27th Battalion moved across the front. The men were eventually stopped and sent forward again and in about an hour the situation was normal. Major T. W. TAYLOR, Captain W. E. MORGAN, Lieutenant’s J. K. MORTON and W. W. REID who had been ordered up from the rear arrived and the three last were sent forward to help reorganise the line; all Officers forward having been in both fights and now pretty well exhausted.
18.30. The Brigade Major called at Battalion Headquarters and gave orders for the relief of the line that night by two Companies of the 24th CANADIAN BATTALION. The Battalion was ordered to send out a patrol, locate a post of the 2nd CANADIAN MOUNTED RIFLES said to be at S.27.d.8.2 and establish a point post with them. Orders issues to Companies accordingly.
20.00. Report from Captain MORGAN timed 7.30pm that he had established a resistance line from S.28.a.20.80 to S.22 central with about 70 men: that he had been unable to find out yet whether there were any more men forward of this: 4 Vickers guns in strongpoint at S.22.a.60.80; 27th Battalion immediately in rear from S.22.c.00.30 to S.22.a.00.30.
23.20. Wire from Brigade stating the 43rd Battalion would move to Railway cutting F.8.b and F.9.c. Relief by 24th Battalion commenced about this time. The relief took a long time to carry out owing to the difficulty of locating the posts and to some confusion in the orders for the relief. Instead of two Companies only one came up and when this was discovered the dispositions had to be altered accordingly.
The War Diary records: 2 Oct-1918. Ref.570 N.E.1. 20,000.
06.30. Captain MORGAN reported that the relief had been complete but that he had been unable to locate the post of the CANADIAN MOUNTED RIFLES. Brigade advised that the relief was complete.
10.00. Casualties to date: Officers. Killed, nil. Wounded, 4. Missing, nil. Other Ranks. Killed, 38. Wounded, 124. Missing, 134.
Battalion Headquarters established in village of FONTAINE at F.15.d.30.80 with Companies distributed along the Railway cutting from F.8.d.95.70 to F.8.b.80.70. There was very little accommodation in the area occupied and men had to start digging funk holes. Day spent resting.
On Friday November 1st 1918 The Melton Mowbray Times & Vale of Belvoir Gazette published the following article under the heading. “HARBY.” – ANOTHER VICTIM. – We this week record the loss in action of another former parishioner, and ex-scholar of the day school, viz., Thomas Stevens, who resided here before emigrating and came over from Canada at the call of duty. Great sympathy goes out to his aged grandmother, Mrs. Israel Smith, who still resides in the village, and to his parents and relatives.