Sergeant George Stephens
18th Battalion, Canadian Infantry (Western Ontario Regiment), Canadian Expeditionary Force (CEF), 53393
Date of Birth: June 1896
Place of Birth: St Thomas, Ontario, Canada.
Date of Death: 8th August 1918 aged 22
Buried: Crucifix Corner Cemetery, Villers-Bretonneux
18th Canadian Infantry
Cap Badge
Sergeant George Stephens was born in June 1896 in St Thomas, Ontario, Canada.
His mother was Bertha Walser, she was born in Switzerland (1864-1927).
George's father was William Henry Stephens 3rd and his paternal grandparents came from Gloucestershire and Somerset (they emigrated to Canada c. 1862).
George had eight siblings (Alma, Clara, Frank, Charles, Freeman, Ann, George and Winnifred).
He was working as a book keeper before the war. He attested at Windsor, Ontario for overseas service on the 3rd November 1914.
George's attestation record shows him as being 18 years and 4 months old, 5 feet six inches tall, with a girth of 34 inches. His complexion was fair, his eyes blue and his hair was brown.
Vintage Postcard of the Allan Line Steamship SS Grampian. © 2000-2019 Gjenvick-Gjønvik Archives
He enlisted as a private in the 18th Battalion of the Canadian Infantry, Canadian Expeditionary Force (CEF) and after a period of training sailed from Hailifax, Nova Scotia to England on the troopship SS Grampian.
He arrived in England on 24 April 1915 and was sent to France on 15th September 1915.
George was severely wounded on the 1st October 1916 at the Somme and sent to hospitals in England. He had shrapnel removed from his chest.
He spent time at the 11th Stationary Hospital Rouen, 2nd West General Hospital Machester, and at the Grand Canadian Special Hospital in Ramsgate. It took him six months to heal.
He was attached to the the Canadian Reserve Battalion until January 1918, then rejoined his own Battalion at Etaples with the rank of Sergeant on 6 June 1918, he was killed in action at Cambria a few weeks later on 8 August 1918 aged 22.
He is buried at Crucifix Coner, near Corbie, France.
Download commemorative certificate (PDF)
The Devon Heritage web site page about Stokeinteignhead War Memorials includes this:
"53393 Sergeant George Stephens of the 18th Battalion, the Canadian Infantry ( Western Ontario Regiment). Parents not yet identified. Born in 1898. Died 8 August 1918 aged 22.".
The parents of the George Stephens are now known, but we have been unable to find any connection between George's family and the Teignmouth, Shaldon, Ringmore, Stokeinteignhead or Coombeinteignhead area of Devon.
The photograph of George is from the Southwestern Ontario Memorial Album, Regimental Rogue.
