The Queens Own Royal West Kent Regiment

Lieutenant R M Stephens

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Inscription - "FOR KING AND COUNTRY"

Photograph by "Claude Laignel"

Lieutenant Robert Miller STEPHENS, 5th  Battalion, Queens Own Royal West Kent Regiment, killed in action, before Gouzeaucourt Wood south west of Cambrai, 27th September 1918, age 29. Buried where he fell.

16th October 1889, born Clapham, London, only Son of Arthur Knight Stephens, (Architect & Surveyor), and Jessie Hesketh, (daughter of the late John Miller of Brockley, SE), of "Alvaston," High Road, Mottingham, Kent / 6 West Park, Eltham, SE.

8th December 1889, Holy Trinity, Clapham, Lambeth, baptism of Robert Miller Stephens, son of Arthur Knight, (Architect), & Jessie Hesketh Stephens, 43 Elms Road, Clapham Park.

Educated Chatham House, Ramsgate, Kent.

1911 Census - 65 Wickham Road, Brockley, London SE - Arthur Knight Stephens, head, age 48, married, hide & skin merchant, employer, born Croydon, Surrey; Jessie Hesketh Stephens, wife, age 46, married 22 years, 2 children, both still alive, born Liverpool, Lancashire; Robert Miller Stephens, son, age 21, single, assisting in the business, worker, born Clapham, Surrey; Dorothy Miller Stephens, daughter, age 18, single, born Clapham, Surrey; Marian Hesketh Miller, sister in law, age 44, single, born Liverpool, Lancashire; Margaret Hesketh Miller, sister in law, age 42, single, born Liverpool, Lancashire; Martha Hughes, servant, age 25, single, born Chepstow, Wales; Annie Hughes, servant, age 23, single, born Chepstow, Wales.

Enlisted 6th August 1914, into Artists Rifles; 26th October 1914, posted BEF; May 1915, returned to England to train for a commission; 11th August 1915, Gazetted 2nd Lieutenant, Royal West Kent Regiment; 1st August 1917, promoted Lieutenant; September 1918, joined his Battalion in France.

16th December 1918, Probate - Robert Miller Stephens, of 6 West Park, Eltham, Kent, Lieutenant 5th Royal West Kent Regiment, died 27th September 1918 in France. Administration London 16 December to Arthur Knight Stephens, architect. Effects £846 12s 11d.

Buried  at Gouzeaucourt New British Cemetery, VIII. A. 18., France. / Commemorated on Mottingham War Memorial.

London Gazette 30th November 1917.

Royal West Kent Regiment - The under mentioned 2nd Lieutenants to be Lieutenants -  1st July 1917 : R. M. Stephens.