The Wartime Memories Project - The Second War



This website uses cookies. By continuing to use this site you agree to accept cookies.


If you enjoy this site

please consider making a donation.




    Site Home

    WW2 Home

    Add Stories

    WW2 Search

    Library

    Help & FAQs


 WW2 Features

    Airfields

    Allied Army

    Allied Air Forces

    Allied Navy

    Axis Forces

    Home Front

    Battles

    Prisoners of War

    Allied Ships

    Women at War

    Those Who Served

    Day-by-Day

    Library

    The Great War

 Submissions

    Add Stories

    Time Capsule

    TWMP on Facebook



    Childrens Bookshop

 FAQ's

    Help & FAQs

    Glossary

    Volunteering

    Contact us

    News

    Bookshop

    About


Advertisements











World War 2 Two II WW2 WWII 1939 1945

208070

Capt. Thomas Stephens MC & Bar.

Royal Army Medical Corps

from:Ardsley, Nr Wakefield

My Grandmothers’s brother, Dr Thomas Stephens, served in the RAMC and was attached to the 4/16th Punjab Regiment. I understand he was at El Alamein and Monte Cassino. I was told he was awarded an MC at El Alamein and an MC Bar at Cassino. However, whilst I have been unable to find any record of the MC for El Alamein, I have found details of an immediate MC awarded at Cassino. I have found a copy of his citation dated 15 March 1944 which reads as follows and was recommended by Lt Col S.W. Packwood:

“On the night of 13-14th Feb 1944 the Btn took over the sector immediately North of the Cassino Monastery and flanking the much disputed Pt593. From the outset casualties came in in a steady stream and Capt T. Stephens, the Btn M.O. was continually occupied, not only in dealing with casualties of his own Btn, but also with those of at least two other Btns in nearby sectors which came through his R.A.P. This continued till 17th Feb and this M.O. worked without relief under conditions continually fraught with danger for long periods both day and night. The climax was reached on the morning of 18 Feb when ½ G.R and 1/9 G.R. attacked the monastery position. Casualties were very heavy and the Btn RAP formed the bottleneck through which they had to pass. The R.A.P. and approaches to it were continually under shell and mortar fire. Stretcher bearer parties, mostly consisting of personnel new to the area, had to be organised and put into action. Capt Stephens was prominent in this work throughout this period. Apart from dealing with scores of casualties he personally led stretcher parties on numerous occasions to where casualties lay and where it was almost certain death to venture. His example and untiring efforts throughout were inspiring and in keeping with the highest traditions of his corps.

Since 21st Feb the Btn has been in an area continually harassed by artillery, mortars and nebelwafers. Casualties have been frequent and the enemy fire at all times well concentrated and prolonged. Capt Stephens has always been first on the scene of casualties and often before the enemy fire has ceased. His alertness, promptitude and courage has been responsible for the saving of many lives and his actions have become a source of great moral comfort to all ranks of the Btn." Commandant, 4th Btn, 16th Punjab Regiment”

Prior to the War, Tom was a GP in Ardsley, Nr Wakefield, Yorks. I know that Tom had two sons who I believe were called Timothy & Nigel, but have been unable to trace them. Anyone who can shed any further light on Tom or his sons would be much appreciated.






Related Content:








Can you help us to add to our records?

The names and stories on this website have been submitted by their relatives and friends. If your relations are not listed please add their names so that others can read about them


Did you or your relatives live through the Second World War? Do you have any photos, newspaper clippings, postcards or letters from that period? Have you researched the names on your local or war memorial? Were you or your relative evacuated? Did an air raid affect your area?

If so please let us know.

Help us to build a database of information on those who served both at home and abroad so that future generations may learn of their sacrifice.




Celebrate your own Family History

Celebrate by honouring members of your family who served in the Secomd World War both in the forces and at home. We love to hear about the soldiers, but also remember the many who served in support roles, nurses, doctors, land army, muntions workers etc.

Please use our Family History resources to find out more about your relatives. Then please send in a short article, with a photo if possible, so that they can be remembered on these pages.














The free section of the Wartime Memories Project website is run by volunteers. We have been helping people find out more about their relatives wartime experiences since 1999 by recording and preserving recollections, documents, photographs and small items.

The website is paid for out of our own pockets, library subscriptions and from donations made by visitors. The popularity of the site means that it is far exceeding available resources and we currently have a huge backlog of submissions.

If you are enjoying the site, please consider making a donation, however small to help with the costs of keeping the site running.



Hosted by:

The Wartime Memories Project Website

is archived for preservation by the British Library





Copyright MCMXCIX - MMXXIV
- All Rights Reserved

We do not permit the use of any content from this website for the training of LLMs or for use in Generative AI, it also may not be scraped for the purpose of creating other websites.