Stephenson, Charles Rigg

BORN HULL, 07/06/1885. SON OF CHARLES RIGG STEPHENSON (1841-1910) AND ANN DUCK (1844-1887). ONE OF SEVEN CHILDREN.

HE MARRIED, CAROLINE McLARDY (1890-1963), AT HULL, IN 1910. THEY LIVED WITH THEIR THREE SONS, AT 6, BRUNSWICK AVENUE, ST GEORGES ROAD & 194, COLTMAN STREET, HULL. A FORMER JOINER. HE WORKED FOR MR F. WARDELL, BUILDER, ALBERT AVENUE, HULL. HE SERVED 14 YEARS WITH THE TERRITORIALS.

HE ENLISTED IN HULL IN 1914 AND WAS ON ACTIVE SERVICE SINCE, PARTICULARLY TRAINNG RECRUITS.  PROMOTED TO COMPANY SERGEANT MAJOR, OF THE 1/4TH EYR. HE SERVED WITH THE REGIMENT IN BELGIUM AND FRANCE SINCE 1915 AND  SURVIVED THE SOMME. HE WAS KILLED IN ACTION, ON 27/05/1918, AGED 35. HIS DEATH WAS REPORTED IN THE HULL DAILY MAIL, ON 08/07/1918. *

HIS ARMY EFFECTS WERE LEFT TO HIS WIDOW, CAROLINE. HE IS COMMEMORATED ON THE SOISSONS MEMORIAL, FRANCE.

1/4^th East Yorkshire Battalion War Diary – 27^th May 1918

When the storm of gas and High Explosive shells broke over the 50^th Division, at 1am, on 27 May 1918, the 1/4^th East Yorkshire Regiment of the 150^th Brigade (the left Battalion, of the left Brigade of the Division) were disposed as follows: “A” Company held the front line,  “B” Company was in close support in Trench Falais (in CRONNE, at the disposal of the 5^th Green Howards (on the right of the 1/4^th EYR), “D” Company was in support in Marais. For two and half hours the Tornado swept the whole divisional area, causing many casualties and practically destroying the Trenches. The 1/4^th EYR was completely disorganised and rear guard actions were fought back to the River Aisne and the Bridge at Maizy, “the number which succeeded in crossing being very small.” Total strength of the 1/4^th EYR was 4 Officers and 105 Other Ranks, out of 30 Officers and 642 Other Ranks, which began, before the attack. The Battle continued until 6^th June 1918, but the 1/4^th  EYR took no further part after the 27^th May and retired to Vert La Gravelle.