Dates:
1891 to 11 September 1916
War Service:
Private 632065 (renumbered from 4721), Alfred Norman Stevens died on 11 September 1916 aged 25 during a night raid on enemy trenches near Neuville-St-Vaast, France. A comrade reported that there had been a warning shout and another soldier took avoiding action but Alf, being hard of hearing, didn't react and was shot in the head.
He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial, (Pier and Face 9D IC 13C and 12C).
Location of Memorial:
He is also remembered on the 20th London Regiment Roll of Honour and by an entry in 'Colfe's Grammar School and the Great War' which reads as follows: 'Stevens, Alfred Norman (1903-5). Joined November, 1915, Provate, 2/20th Battn. London Regt. Served in France. Missing 11.9.16 in night raid on enemy trenches at Arras. He was last seen holding communication line, a position for which he volunteered. Presumed to have been killed on that date'.
Details:
Known as 'Alf', he was born 1st April 1891, the son of Alfred Henry and Elizabeth Stevens, together with his three sisters, Annie Florence Victoria, Florence Mary Ann and Dorothy of 52 Coombedale Road, Westcombe Park, East Greenwich. He had been employed as a clerk in a leather wholesalers.
Click here for details of the raid that led to his death.
Source:
The War Diaries of the 2nd/20th Bn London, Regiment, Commonwealth War Graves and his family.
Contributed By: Janet and Peter Groves
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by Local History and Archives Centre, Lewisham and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence
