Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of William Stevenson, a shoe trade pattern cutter, born in the April quarter of 1858 in Medbourne, Leicestershire and baptised on the 12th May 1858 in the Church of St. Giles, Medbourne (son of Thomas Stevenson, 1824 and Mary Stafford, 1824) and his wife Hannah Stevenson (nee Basford, married on the 14th November 1880 in St. Saviour’s Church, Leicester), a dressmaker, born in the January quarter of 1856 in Towcester, Northamptonshire (daughter of William Basford, 1813-1890 and Elizabeth Hern, 1811-1887). Harold Arthur Edward, a schoolboy, was born in in the July quarter of 1883 in Leicester and baptised on the 21st October 1883 in St. Peter’s Church, Leicester, his siblings were, William Basford, a schoolboy, born in the April quarter of 1881 and baptised on the 21st October 1883 in St. Peter’s Church, Leicester, Edith Mary Elizabeth, a schoolgirl, born on the 15th August 1885 and baptised on the 29th January 1888 in the Church of St. Barnabas, Leicester and Florence Annie, a schoolgirl, born on the 27th November 1887 and baptised on the 29th January 1888 in the Church of St. Barnabas, Leicester, all his siblings were born in Leicester, also residing with the family was a niece, Lydia Basford, a dressmaker, born 1867 in Middlesex, in April 1891 the family home was at New Street, Earl Shilton, Leicestershire. In March 1901 Harold was employed as a shoe trade rivetter and was residing in the family home at 60, Hinckley Road, New Street, Earl Shilton together with his father, a shoe trade clicker, his mother and siblings, William, a shoe trade clicker, Edith, a shoe trade machinist, Florence, a shoe trade machinist, Percy Charles, born in the October quarter of 1891 and baptised on the 8th July 1894 in the Church of St. Simon & St. Jude, Earl Shilton and Thomas Henry, born on the 14th July 1895 and baptised on the 8th February 1903 in the Church of St. Simon & St. Jude, Earl Shilton, the latter two siblings were both born in Earl Shilton. In April 1911 Harold was employed as a boot and shoe trade worker and was residing in the family home at 126, East Park Road, Leicester, together with his father, a boot and shoe trade clicker, his mother and siblings, Percy, a hosiery trade clerk and Thomas, a boot and shoe trade clerk, also residing with the family was a granddaughter, Dorothy Abbott, born 1907 in Leicester. Harold married Ada Mawby on the 26th June 1915 in St. Mark’s Church, Leicester, Ada was born on the 21st October 1892 in Leicester (daughter of John George Mawby, 1862 and Kate Reynolds, 1864).
FAMILY NOTE: Harold’s widow emigrated to Canada, and in January 1920 was residing at 394, Coxwell Avenue, Toronto, Canada.
Harold enlisted/attested into the Territorial Force on the 6th August 1914 in Leicester, and was allotted the regimental service number 2232. He gave his place of birth as Leicester and age as 31 years. His marital status was given as unmarried and his trade or calling as shoe hand, presently in the employ of Messrs. Stevenson and Son, Atkinson Street, Leicester. He gave his present address as 196, East Park Road, Leicester.
He confirmed that he had previously served for 4 years with the Royal Army Medical Corps, 5th Northern General Hospital. Discharged Time Expired.
His medical inspection record gave his full name as Harold Arthur Edward Stevenson, his apparent age as 31 years, his height as 5-foot 7½ inches, his chest measurement as 31 inches to 33½ inches, his vision as good and his physical development as good.
He was certified as fit for the Territorial Force. Date 6th August 1914. Place Leicester.
He gave his religion as Church of England.
He gave his next of kin as his father, Wm. Stevenson, 126, East Park Road, Leicester. Wife, 94, Brandon Street, Leicester. 6½, Horsepool, Burbage.
The compilation of events that occurred during his period of military service are taken from the following sources: - Casualty Form – Active Service (B.103). Statement of the Services of. Military History Sheet.
Joined. At Leicester. 6/8/14.
Posted. To 5th Northern general Hospital. Pte. 6/8/14.
Embodied service commenced. 6/8/14.
Promoted. Acting Corporal. 5/6/15.
Becomes Substantive Corporal under A.C.I. 943/17. 5/6/15.
Attached. To 88th Field Ambulance as Reinforcements Permanent. 12/9/15.
Admitted. To 88th Field Ambulance, N.Y.D. 5/11/15.
Embarked. From Port Suez. 11/3/16.
Disembarked. At Marseilles. 20/3/16.
Admitted. To 88th Field Ambulance, influenza. In the Field. 4/4/16.
Transferred. To 3rd Casualty Clearing Station. In the Field. 4/4/16.
Discharged. From 4th Casualty Clearing Station. In the Field. 7/4/16.
Wounded in action, shell contusion left knee. In the Field. 11/12/16.
Returned to duty. In the Field. 11/12/16.
Granted 11 days leave with ration allowance from 10/2/17 to 20/2/17.
Under the Army Council Instruction of 1917 that promulgated a new numbering system for all Territorial Force units, he was allotted the service number 426023.
Granted 14 days leave with ration allowance from 13/2/18 to 27/2/18.
War pay increased to 3-?- from 6/8/18. In the Field. 6/8/18.
Wounded in action, shotgun wound to chest penetrating, arms, legs and body. In the Field.
Died from wounds in 87th Field Ambulance. In the Field. 28/9/18.
Summary of Service.
Home Service. 6/8/14 – 11/9/15. 1 year 37 days.
Mediterranean Expeditionary Force. 12/9/15 – 19/5/16. 251 days.
En-route to France. 20/5/16 – 25/5/16. 6 days.
Expeditionary Force, France. 26/5/16 – 28/9/18. 2 years 126 days.
Total Service. 4 years 54 days
He was awarded the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal.
SERVICE RECORD NOTE: In September 1940, as the result of a fire caused by an incendiary bomb at the War Office Record Store in Arnside Street, London, approximately two thirds of 6.5 million soldiers’ documents for the First World War were destroyed. Those records which survived were mostly charred or water damaged and unfit for consultation and became known as the “burnt documents.” As a consequence, the content and condition of the surviving records can range from good to extremely poor. The hand written information is, in some instances barely legible, and the number of pages that should comprise a full record, in some cases are either badly damaged or missing entirely, however where possible the available information has been transcribed so that it may at least offer the reader a little descriptive insight into some, if not all of the events and background information surrounding the period of service.
On the 7th April 1919, Harold’s widow Ada, of 94, Brandon Street, Leicester, was awarded a weekly Army Dependant’s Pension of fifteen shillings, commensurate on the 14th April 1919.
On Wednesday September 28th, 1921, The Leicester Daily Mercury published the following article on page 7, under the heading. – BIRTHS, MARRIAGES AND DEATHS. – IN MEMORIAM. – STEVENSON. – In loving memory of my dear husband, Cpl. Harold A. E. Stevenson, killed 28th Sept., 1918. Ever in thought. Ada, Canada.
And under the same heading. STEVENSON. – In loving memory of Corpl. Harold A. E. Stevenson, R.A.M.C., killed Sept. 28th, 1918. – From Father, Mother, Brothers, and Sisters.
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