Category: Military
Rank: Driver DM2/179893
Regiment or Ship: Army Service Corps
Service Number(s): DM2/179893
Occupation: Architect
Date of Birth: 1880
Place of Birth: Hackney, London
Date of Death: 08.11.1929
Place of Death: Bexhill-on-Sea
Place of Burial / Memorials:
Bexhill Cemetery ECG2.
James Edgar William Stevens died on 8th November 1929, aged 49, and the plaque in Bexhill Cemetery reads: “In loving memory of ‘Eddie’, James Edgar William Stevens, who died 8th November 1929.”
Tributes to him in the Bexhill Observer and Chronicle read:
“In tender loving memory of dear Eddie from his sorrowing mother, Ethel, and Lily.” “With love and deepest sympathy from Amy, Robert and Kath.” “With deepest sympathy from Arthur, Win and family.” “With deepest sympathy from Horatia and Bessie (India)~.” “To our dear nephew from Mr. and Mrs. A. J. Heath.” “With deepest sympathy from friends at ‘Walthamstow’.” “From Ella and Mabel.” “From Nan and Bert.” “From Ede, Maud and Iris.”
In the Bexhill Observer and Chronicle dated 16th November 1929 the following appeared:
“Mr. J.E.W. Stevens, senior partner in the firm of Messrs. Stevens and Sons, estate agents and auctioneers, died yesterday (Friday) morning in a local nursing home. Mr. Stevens, who was the elder son of the late Mr. J. E. Stevens, had been ill for about four months. He was 49 and unmarried. Funeral on Monday next.”
His probate showed that he left a sum of £280-16s-1d.
Address: Brackenshaw, Richmond Grove, Bexhill on Sea
Photos and newspaper articles
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Family Information
Parents: James Edgar Stevens, b. circa 1854 in Shoreditch, d. 07.09.1924 in Bexhill, married in the third quarter of 1878, a lady whose surname is possibly Heath. She died and later on James married Madeleine Florence Wells, b. circa 1872 in the City of London, d. 23.11.1957 in Bexhill.
Siblings:
Ethel Sarah Stevens, b. circa in Hackney.
Lilian Maud Stevens, b. circa 1884 in Hackney.
Harry Wells Stevens, b. circa 1901 in Bexhill – half-brother.
First World War Experience
James Edgar William Stevens was awarded both the British War Medal and the Victory Medal. He is listed as both a Private and a Driver.
In the Bexhill Chronicle dated 26th May, 1917, the following article appeared:
“Driver J. E. W. Stevens (ASC), son of Councillor and Mrs. J. E. Stevens, writing from Dar-es-Salaam under date April 6th, reports that he is quite well, and sends best wishes to all his friends.”
The following is a transcription of a report in the Bexhill Observer dated 8th February 1919:-
Observer De-mob article 8.2.1919
Additional Information
James’ father, James Edgar, had started an Estate Agents and Auctioneers in Bexhill after moving from Hackney, Middlesex.
In the 1911 Census James Stevens, senior, was seen to employ two ‘house’ servants:-
Rose Richardson, aged 18, born in Hailsham.
Alice Pocock, aged 16, born in Hooe.
Tribunal Reports
James Edgar William was reported, in the Bexhill Observer of 20th May, 1916, to have gone before a Tribunal. A transcription of the Tribunal report follows:
“J. E. W. Stevens, son of Councillor Stevens, had been exempted from military service on the grounds of his father’s illness (and therefore he was unable to continue his business alone). The military considered that Mr. Stevens, senior, was not so infirm as he made out. A representative of the military said Mr. Stevens had been seen walking about the town with great vigour and nothing seemed to be the matter. There was nothing much in the medical certificates Mr. Stevens had sent to the hearing; many men had heart disease and carried on their business. As a sale of the Marina, Mr. Stevens had found a man to conduct it for him.”