Sergeant Frederick William Stevens

“One of “The Little Contemptibles.”

A Mons and Somme Hero

The funeral of Sergt. Frederick William Stevens, of the Queen’s Royal West Surrey Regiment took place with military honours, on Monday afternoon, at Dorking, whither his mother has recently removed from Godstone. Previously a Territorial, deceased, at the age of 18, joined the 1^st Battalion of the Queen’s.

When the war broke out he proceeded with his battalion to France; this was on Aug 17^th 1914, and he was promoted to Lance-Sergt on the field. He went through the Battle of Mons, but in November of the same year was invalided home with appendicitis.

He returned to France in February 1915, going through the Battle of the Somme and being slightly wounded twice. Later he was made Bomb-Sergeant. He was one of the 36 1^st Queen’s who carried out the successful bombing raid on German trenches, when the little party had only one officer slightly wounded.

In December last he returned home with trench foot and was in hospital for four months. He was sent to Shoreham Convalescent Camp, and subsequently returned to duty at Chatham.

A fortnight ago Sergt. Stevens was home on three days leave, his father, Sergt. F. W. Stevens, also in the Queen’s, being fortunate to obtain leave at the same time. On Jan. 8^th last, when deceased returned to duty at Chatham, he seemed in good health, except for a face ache, but a few days later he was found unconscious, and admitted to hospital. He never regained consciousness, and died on Wednesday, the primary cause of death being pneumonia.

Deceased, who was 25 years of age, was employed on leaving school, by Mr. Henry Wandsworth,

of South Godstone, and afterwards at Marden Park. This is the second loss Sergt. And Mrs. Stevens have suffered during the war; their second son; Henry George, being another victim of the “Queen Mary.” Another son, Herbert Charles, is in the Navy, and is serving in the Mediterranean. They all come of good fighting stock; their father, who is now doing duty at the Recruiting Office, St. Nicholas’ Hall, Guildford, has been in the Army since 1886. He served through the South African War, and in Sept., 1914 was called up with National Reserve.

The body of Sergt. Stevens was conveyed from Chatham by S.E. and C. Railway, on Monday, and at Dorking Station was met by a firing party from the Depot at Stoughton Barracks, in charge of Sergt. Buckley : four N.C.O’s of the Battalion also acting as bearers. The coffin was covered with the Union Jack, and, preceded by the firing party, with arms reversed, was followed by Sergt.-Major…

Johnson, Sergt.-Major McCardy, Sergt.-Major Wearing, Sergts. Kelly, Wollerston, Avis, Horn, King and Evans from the depot and by Sergts. Vauchan, Luff, Hulyer, Bailey, Coomber, and Turner, representing the 3^rd Battalion at Sittingbourne.

The service at the cemetery was conducted by the Rev. G. Adams, and at the close the usual three volleys were fired over the grave and the “Last Post” sounded by a bugler from the Depot. The mourners included the bereaved parents and members of the family.

Beautiful wreaths were sent, with deep sympathy, from the Sergeants’ Mess at Stoughton Barracks, and Sittingbourne , and another from “Mum, Dad, and family” had these words attached:-

The Fight was hard till victory was won. But the crowning glory is, Well done, my son.

Frederick Stevens Death Notice 25th January 1918 © Surrey Advertiser ancestry.co.uk