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Sgt. William "Willie" Stevenson
British Army 1st Btn Gordon Highlanders
from:South Hetton, Durham
(d.2nd Mar 1916)
My grandfather, William Stevenson was born in Middlesbrough. He joined the Police Force in 1907. He and my grandmother were married in 1910 and lived in South Hetton, Durham. They had three children, the eldest being my mother. William travelled to Sunderland where he enlisted on 22nd March 1915; he resigned from the Police the following day. His war records, though badly burnt, have provided a few details.
He embarked at Southampton 29th April that year and joined the Battalion on 1st May. He was promoted to Corporal then Sergeant in September, 1915. He went on leave to the UK from 2nd to 10th January, 1916.
According to a war diary on the Gordon Highlanders website an assault began in the Reninghelst area at 4.30am on 2nd March, 1916. Witnesses, L/C Hughes and Pte Ledlingham, told of my grandfather being wounded in a Bombing Post which was subsequently blown up. About a week later, while trench clearing, his body was found and reburied.
My grandmother was awarded a pension of 21/6d per week for herself and the three children with effect from 25th September, 1916. My grandfather's body was found again and reburied in trenches south of Verbrande Molen. However, it wasn't until some time between 1924 and 1928 that his body was discovered once more and identified by a ring he was wearing. He was finally laid to rest in Sanctuary Wood Cemetery. I have visited his grave a number of times and plan to go there once more for the Armistice Centenary in November.
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