Alec Stevenson . Royal Navy HMS Copra My dad served at HMS Copra between April 1944 and June 1946.
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Alfred John Stevenson . British Army Royal East Kent Regiment from London I never got the chance to meet my grandfather as he had passed away before I was born, but I was always told about him being captured as they headed to Dunkirk and then being marched to Poland, he lost several toes due to frostbite. While researching my family tree I discovered that he was a POW at Stalag 20b in Malbork, Poland. His name was Alfred John Stevenson of the Royal East Kent Regiment (the Buffs). He was in his late 30s when he was captured. Id love to find out more, where he was when he was captured, what he did when he was at the camp etc.
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Alfred John Stevenson . British Army East Kent Regiment My grandfather was Alfred Stevenson, serving in the East Kent Regiment. He was a POW at Malbork Stalag XXb, POW number 15353.
Captured whilst retreating to Dunkirk, he was then force-marched across Europe, losing several toes to frost-bite along the way.
I don't have much more information about my grandfather as I was born after he passed away and he apparently didn't talk much about his life during the war.
If anyone has any knowledge of him I would love to hear from you. Reading everyone else's accounts is humbling.
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Tpr. Archibald Christie Stevenson . British Army 2nd Btn. Royal Scots Greys from Slammanan (d.11th Jul 1944) Archie Stevenson was killed in action during the battle for Hill 112 (Operation Jupiter). From what I have researched, he was killed in the afternoon of 11 July 1944. He was a crew member in one of a group of Sherman tanks that were destroyed covering the retreat of the 5th Duke of Cornwall’s Light Infantry from Cornwall Wood. He was buried on Hill 112 after the battle but was reburied after the war at Banneville-la-Campagane.
He was fondly remembered in the family for his great sense of humour and enjoyment of telling jokes and playing pranks on people.
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Pte. Benjamin Stevenson . British Army 2nd Btn. Durham Light Infantry from Bradford (d.28th April 1944)
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Cpl. Beryl Stevenson . Womens Auxiliary Air Force from Nottingham Beryl Stevenson is my mum. She became Beryl Garrard whilst serving, having married Flight Sergeant Arthur Charles Garrard in 1944. She trained in Morecambe and was then posted to Harwell as a hairdresser, where she met my dad. She was tasked to set up the hairdressing section at Harwell by going to London to order the necessary items.
When the situation changed at Harwell she was then posted to Bletchley, where again she joined the hairdressing section. My father was posted to Fulsham at the same time. They married while she was at Bletchley. After the marriage she soon fell pregnant, moved back to Nottingham, and went on to have a total of five children over fifteen years.
Sadly my father died after they had been married for just 23 years and so left a young family. My mother is still alive and has just celebrated her 97th birthday, still living in Nottingham. The picture is of my dad in RAF uniform.
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F/O Charles Stevenson . RNZAF 15 Sqd (d.16th Nov 1944)
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Capt David Charles Stevenson MBE. British Army 7th Btn.
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F/Lt. Edward Fletcher Stevenson DFM.. Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve from Holytown, Lanarkshire  Edward Stevenson was awarded the DFM for heroic actions during an attack on Leipzig in December 1943. London Gazette, 25 January 1944:
"One night in December 1943, Edward Stevenson was flight engineer of an aircraft detailed to attack Leipzig. When nearing the target the aircraft was attacked by a fighter and sustained damage, including one of the fuel tanks which was set on fire. The rear gunner was killed and the mid-upper gunner was wounded. Coolly and promptly, Sergeant Stevenson assumed the responsibility of maintaining watch and also directing the combat manoeuvres of his pilot who thus was able to evade 2 further attacks.
On the return flight, Sergeant Stevenson and his comrade did everything within their power to assist in the safe return of the aircraft and eventually this country was reached with little petrol to spare.
In very trying circumstances, these airmen displayed great courage, coolness and devotion to duty."
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Gnr. Francis William Stevenson . British Army Royal Artillery My father Frank Stevenson fought in the Admin Box with 9th Indian Infantry Brigade. He was a RA gunner on 25 pounders and was part of 5th Indian Divisional Artillery supporting the 2nd West Yorkshires at and before Ngakyedauk and Sinzweya. He died in 1981 and talked about his Burma experiences from time to time but never bothered about getting any medals to mark his contribution and service to his country.
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J Stevenson . British Army 15th (S) Regiment Reconnaissance Corps J Stevenson served with the 15th (S) Regiment Reconnaissance Corps British Army. I have his unissued dogtags, made in preparation for deployment to the Far East and would love to get them home to his family. I am happy to cover all costs. If you are a family member or can put me in touch with them please get in touch. Update: The Wartime Memories Project is no longer in contact with Dan , his website, facebook page and email have all ceased to function. But if you can add any details about the person listed, please use the add to record link below.
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J. M. Stevenson . Royal Canadian Air Force pilot 419 Sqd.
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WO1 James John Stevenson . Indian Army Indian Army Ordnance Corps from Plumstead, London (d.11th January 1942) Warrant Officer Class I Stevenson was the son of William John and Jane Stevenson; husband of Gladys Ena Stevenson of Plumstead, London.
He is buried in the Polemidia Military Cemetery in Cyprus, Grave 84.
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L/Cpl. John Stevenson . British Army 1st Btn. Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders from Glasgow (d.7th Apr 1945) My uncle John Stevenson was taken prisoner at Dunkirk and ended up at Stalag 20B in Malbork, Poland. However, he seems to have died on 7th April 1945, so I can only assume he was part of the Long March. I am still trying to find out how he died.
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L Stevenson . British Army Royal Tank Regiment L Stevenson served with the Royal Tank Regiment British Army. I have his unissued dogtags, made in preparation for deployment to the Far East and would love to get them home to his family. I am happy to cover all costs. If you are a family member or can put me in touch with them please get in touch. Update: The Wartime Memories Project is no longer in contact with Dan , his website, facebook page and email have all ceased to function. But if you can add any details about the person listed, please use the add to record link below.
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Driver Moris Stevenson . British Army Royal Engineers My grandad was a driver in the Royal Artillery, part of the 8th Army Desert Rats.
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Pte. Norman Stevenson . British Army 5th Battalion Royal Norfolk Regiment from Thetford (d.27th January 1942) Norman Stevenson was born in Birkenhead and Married Jean M Mower of Thetford. He was reported missing in Senggaran, Malaya on the
27th of January 1942. He has No Known Grave and is survived by his son and daughter.
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Patricia "Stevie" Stevenson . Land Army Patricia (Stevie) Stevenson - Shenley Lodge
Does anyone remember me, Pat "Stevie" Stevenson?
I was billeted at Shanley Lodge, Ridge Hill, Barnet, Hertfordshire from 1945 to 1949. I joined when I was 17 yrs old.
Although the work was hard, I had a great time and meet some fantastic people and made a lot of friends. Unfortunately, I have not kept in touch.
I would so much like to hear for anyone who might remember me.
Looking forward to hopefully hearing you
Pat
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Pilot Officer R D Stevenson . RAF 59 Squadron
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R Stevenson . British Army R Stevenson served with the British Army. I have his unissued dogtags, made in preparation for deployment to the Far East and would love to get them home to his family. I am happy to cover all costs. If you are a family member or can put me in touch with them please get in touch. Update: The Wartime Memories Project is no longer in contact with Dan , his website, facebook page and email have all ceased to function. But if you can add any details about the person listed, please use the add to record link below.
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Lt. R. Stevenson . Home Guard B Coy. Workington Btn.
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L/Tel Richard Kenneth Stevenson . Royal Navy HMS Pembroke from Nottingham
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OA3. William Frederick Stevenson . Royal Navy HMS Wildfire from 10 Elis St Masbrough My dad William Stevenson told me a story when he was a chief gunner on the many ships he was based on. He told me how he was on HMS Pembroke and he was stationed in Chatham doing his training. He was wearing shorts one day during the summer when I joked about his hot legs laughingly. When I noticed he had scars all down one leg and a bit on the other. It was then I found the pivotal moment when he began to tell me his terrifying moment they were under attack. He said they were firing above at the planes and trying to avoid getting torpedoed from the sea Subs and U boats. But he said he remembered a cry of "incoming torpedo". Dad said he was pushed and as their boat sank he was in the water in pain and hearing his fellow comrades screaming for help.
He adds there was fire on the water but when I asked where he was, what ship he was on and the country, he shut down and wouldn't say any more.
Checking his list of ships he was on HMS Tyne and HMS Wildfire III. To name a few.
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Flt.Sgt. James Edward Steventon . Royal Air Force 101 Squadron from Fighting Cocks, County Durham My father James Steventon was a Flight Engineer on Lancasters of 101 Sqadron, RAF, during WW2 and flew from RAF Ludford Magna. 101 Squadron were a special duties squadron who flew at intervals in the Bomber Stream as early ECM/ESM aircraft as well as a full load of weapons. They would jam radios with noise and also use their German speaking special operator to try and spoof the night-fighters into going places other than as directed by the controllers. Their aircraft were easily recognisable due to the two large aerials on the top and one on the bottom under the nose, as seen in the side view I have added. During the bomber campaign against Germany 101 Squadron flew on more raids than any other bomber squadron but suffered the highest casualties of any RAF unit in the war, losing 1176 aircrew killed in action.
I recall Dad telling me of one occasion when their "operator" was having a row with the night-fighter controller as to where the bomber stream was and he told me that their man won because he knew more German swear words than the controller!
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Sig. Arthur Thomas Steward . Union Defense Forces S.Africa Signal Regiment Dad, Arthur Steward contracted malaria in Egypt in 1942 and sailed on Aba to Haifa, Palestine to recuperate.
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Sgt. Bryan Roy Steward . Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve 37 Sqdn. from Chelmsford (d.19th April 1942)
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FG Steward . British Army FG Steward served with the British Army. I have his unissued dogtags, made in preparation for deployment to the Far East and would love to get them home to his family. I am happy to cover all costs. If you are a family member or can put me in touch with them please get in touch. Update: The Wartime Memories Project is no longer in contact with Dan , his website, facebook page and email have all ceased to function. But if you can add any details about the person listed, please use the add to record link below.
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Flt/Lt George Arthur Steward DFM. Royal Air Force 17th Sqd. from Bromeswell George was born in 1914, in a small village called Bromeswell, very near to Ipswich in Suffolk. He had been a mechanic with the Ipswich Flying Club. Also he was in the RAF Reserves and was due to come out in the middle of September 1939, but Britain declared war on Germany on September 3rd 1939, and so he had to stay in the RAF. At the beginning of the War there was very little happening because Germany was busy with overcoming Poland. The German method of attack was quick and rapid subjugation of its victims, and the German name of this was blitz krieg. Because of the quietness the Germans called sitzkrieg and the British called it the phoney war.
George was in 17 Squadron based at Martlesham near Ipswich, flying Hurricane single seat fighter planes. RAF planes had two capital letter code on the side of the fuselage, and 17 Squadron had YB. If you look at the Hurricane in Queen’s flight you will see it has YB; the Squadron does not exist any more.
During the phoney war both sides were attacking only military targets and the first raid on Britain was at Rosyth to bomb ships. The big ship the Germans wanted sink was tied up at the quayside and they did not bomb it because civilians would have been killed or injured. We, the Allies, also respected this ideal but as you will see it did not last long for either side.
Meanwhile in Europe Hitler, in charge of the Germans, was working his armies to France, through Holland and Belgium. The French had built a defensive line, known as the Maginot Line to keep invaders out. The Germans just went round the end of it and the Battle of France was on. There were many British soldiers fighting in France alongside the French. The French kept demanding more fighter planes to go to France to help and at first the squadrons stayed at bases in France. The losses of aircraft was high because the planes were being bombed on the ground and the Germans were overrunning bases. Mr. Churchill, the British leader, said no more and would only authorise fighters going over to France to do battle if they could refuel and come home again. This is where George comes in as 17 Squadron was one of those sent out on the basis.
Although war is a nasty business sometimes there are lighter moments. There is a story that one day 17 Squadron was near Le Mans and some of the pilots found some motorcycles and went racing round the racing circuit. Whether George was one of them I have no idea!
Unfortunately, things were getting worse and the Germans were driving the French and British further and further west to Dunkirk. A decision was made to evacuate as many troops as possible from France to England. Mr. Churchill and Admiral Ramsay met in a room to control the evacuation. The room was next to the dynamo room where there was too much noise for anyone to be able to hear what was being said. The evacuation acquired the name Operation Dynamo. The idea was to commandeer small boats as they could, to ferry the soldiers from the beaches to waiting naval ships.
The RAF, including George, attacked the German Bombers and fighters who were trying to stop the soldiers getting away. A sad thing about this operation was there was a lot smoke from bombs and burning buildings and cloudy weather so that the soldiers could not see what was happening in the sky. Also the Allied fighters were trying to shoot down the bombers before they got to Dunkirk. This made the soldiers think the RAF had abandoned them, so much so that back in England if they saw an RAF man they were very rude to him and in some cases beat him up. Whether George had the same treatment I do not know.
I read a book about the Luftwaffe in which it was related that the Luftwaffe had so many planes lost and damaged, and so many pilots lost and wounded, as a result of the attention of the RAF, that no way could back up an invasion of England. The evacuation lasted from 26th May to 4th June and 338,000 soldiers were taken home.
May I digress here? George was not the only member of the family at Dunkirk. Some Thames sailing barges were commandeered to help and two were
skippered by two of my great-uncles, Fred Finbow and Lem Webb. When the evacuation was finished Uncle Lem sailed safely back to Dover with some 250 soldiers aboard. Uncle Fred was not so lucky. Three barges were being towed home in line eastern by Gravesend tug which hit a mine and was blown to bits and sank as did the first barge. The second barge, Uncle Fred’s, rolled over and sank. Uncle was all right and was picked up by the third barge, the “Pudge”, which was undamaged and was able to sail herself home. The “Pudge” when she came out of service was converted into a conference centre in London Docklands. Uncle Lem’s barge ended up in the place as a restaurant until she sank at her mooring and was taken away for repairs.
While this was going on Hitler was building up an invasion fleet in the Channel ports. There were bombing raids on them but George was not involved with this. Hermann Goering, a very arrogant and self-important man, was in overall command of the Luftwaffe and he convinced Hitler to delay the invasion until he had destroyed all the RAF bases in southern England, after which the German army could invade with less resistance.
The stage known as the Battle of Britain was about to start. Until now there were sporadic raids aimed mainly at factories and military places. The battle started on tenth of July and was mainly against convoys in a bid to stop ships from bringing food and other essential supplies to us. Then in August the Luftwaffe began bombing coastal airfields, the in September the attacks on air fields further inland. The RAF were using Spitfires and Hurricanes to attack the German bombers and their protective fighters. The Spitfires were faster than the Hurricanes and so they went after the German fighters and the Hurricanes went after the bombers. One advantage of fighting over England was that when a German plane was shot down the crew was taken prisoner and could not fight again. British pilots, if unhurt, could get back to a base and could be back in the air and fighting again. George was shot down and crash-landed near Maidstone but was unhurt and two Air Raid Wardens took him to a nearby pub for a pint. During this time George was awarded the Distinguished Flying Medal
(DFM) for bravery.
Knocked out of the skies. Hitler was becoming more interested in going east to Russia. The German invasion fleet was slowly disbanded. The bombing raids carried on. Then in the winter the Blitz was started in which cities were bombed during the night. Our fighters could not do much because only few fighters had radar to see me the enemy in the dark. George’s Squadron was kept busy with convoy patrols.
During 1941 George was awarded a commission and so became an officer. In the autumn the Squadron went to Tain in northeast Scotland. One day while taking off the plane following hit George’s plane and they crashed and both pilots were killed.
As the winter drew nearer the weather made an invasion more difficult because of the sea conditions. More importantly the RAF had not been
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F/O. Harry Michael Steward . Royal Air Force 76 Squadron from Shrewsbury (d.16th July 1944) Harry Steward is buried in Courcelles-les-Gisors, Oise, France
He was a Pilot in 76 Squadron and died 16th July 1944, aged 22. Son of Capt. Harry Steward, O.B.E., M.C., J.P., and Sybil M. Steward, of Shrewsbury, Shropshire.
The inscription on his headstone reads, O Valiant Heart.
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Pte. Herbert Louis Steward . Australian Army 2/3rd Battalion from New South Wales, Australia Bert Steward was interned in Stalag 18D from 28th pf August 1941 at Maridor after being captured in Greece or Crete. On an unknown date he moved to Oflag IIIC in Lubben/Spree. He was moved to Stalag 18B Spittal an der Drau arriving 10th of November 1942 and arrived at Stalag 383 15th of April 1943.
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