John STEVEN, D.C.M.

Company Sergeant Major

7th Battalion

(formerly 'D' Company

2nd Battalion)

Seaforth Highlanders

Cap Badge of the Seaforth Highlanders

Newspaper clipping taken from The Daily Record, dated 3 Nov 1916, page 3

Newspaper clipping taken from The Daily Record, dated 15 Nov 1916, page 6

JOHN STEVEN, D.C.M., Company Sergeant Major (CSM) 342, 7th Bn Seaforth Highlanders, is named on WW1 Panel 8 of the Larkhall War Memorial.

He formerly served in 'D' Company of the 2nd Bn Seaforth Highlanders.

His parents were George Steven, a Miner, and Mary Edwards who were married at Larkhall on 26 Aug 1887. At the time of their marriage George Steven was 28 years of age, and Mary Edwards was 20 years of age, and both were residents of Larkhall
His paternal grandparents were Montgomery Steven, a Miner, and Mary Ferguson.
His maternal grandparents were John Edwards, a Miner, and Mary Pepperd.

Children of the marriage:
Montgomery Edward Stevens was born on 14 May 1886, at West Quarter, Parish of Glassford.
Thomas Hamilton Edward Stevens was born on 14 Dec 1887, at Bog Colliery Row, Parish of Hamilton.
George Ferguson Edward Steven was born on 20 Jun 1889, at 20 Bog Colliery Row, Parish of Hamilton.
Mary Helen Jane Edwards Steven was born on 15 Oct 1890, at Bog Colliery Row, Parish of Hamilton.
JOHN EDWARDS STEVEN, DCM was born at Bog Colliery Rows, Parish of Hamilton, on 21 Feb 1892.
Ann Edwards Steven was born on 26 May 1893, at Bog Colliery Row, Parish of Hamilton.

[Note that the BDM and Census records show varying spellings of EDWARD, EDWARDS, STEVENS, STEPHENS and STEVEN. This may be due to illiteracy, or the whim of the Registrar.

I am using the spelling as STEVEN and EDWARDS for clarity and uniformity.]

[Note that 'Bog Colliery', or 'Bog Mine' was situated near Larkhall.
For address purposes it was located within the Parish of Hamilton, though there are claims that it was within the Parish of Dalserf. At one time, the 'Quoad Sacra Parish of Larkhall' was within the 'Civil Parish of Hamilton'.
See Dalserf Parish - Hamilton M'Culloch & Co Ltd - Bog Mine - situated near Larkhall...
http://www.scottishmining.co.uk/281.html]

The 1891 LARKHALL Census was taken on 3 Apr 1901.
The family are listed at Bog Pit, Larkhall, as follows:
George Steven, age 32, Head, Coal Miner, b Galston, Ayrshire.
Mary Steven, age 23, Wife, b Cape Town, British Subject.
Montgomery Steven, age 4, Son, b Glassford.
Thomas Steven, age 3, Son, b Hamilton.
George Steven, age 1, Son, b Hamilton.
Mary Steven, age 6 months, Daughter, b Hamilton.
Edward Edwards, age 17, Boarder, Coal Miner, b Springside, Ayrshire.

JOHN EDWARDS STEVEN, DCM was born at Bog Colliery Rows, Parish of Hamilton, on 21 Feb 1892.

On 10 Sep 1893, his mother Mary Stephens (sic), age 28 (sic), married to George Stephens (sic), died in the Royal Infirmary, Glasgow.

Her 'Usual Residence' is shown as Union Street, Larkhall.

On 28 Jun 1895, his father George Steven, now age 35, married Jeanie Williamson Chapman, age 27, at Wellgate, Lanark. His address is shown as 19 Merryton Rows, Cadzow, Hamilton, and her address is Wellgate, Lanark.

The 1901 DALSERF Census was taken on 31 Mar 1901.
The family are listed at Parker Place, Shawsburn, Dalserf, as follows:
George Steven, age 41, Head, Coal Miner, b Galston, Ayrshire.
Jeanie Steven, age 32, Wife, b Lanark.
Montgomery Steven, age 14, Son, Coal Miner, b Glassford.
Thomas Steven, age 13, Son, Scholar, b Hamilton.
George Steven, age 11, Son, Scholar, b Hamilton.
Mary Steven, age 10, Daughter, Scholar, b Hamilton.
JOHN STEVEN, age 9, Son, Scholar, b Hamilton.
Annie Steven, age 7, Daughter, Scholar, b Hamilton.

The 1911 HAMILTON Census was taken on 2 Apr 1911.
The parents are listed at 78 Townhead Street, Hamilton, as follows:
George Steven, age 52, Head, Coal Miner, b Galston, Ayrshire.
Jeanie Steven, age 42, Wife, b Lanark.

The 1911 Census for ARDERSIER, Inverness, shows:
JOHN STEVENS, age 19, Single, Private, Soldier, 2nd Battalion Seaforth Highlanders, b Hamilton.
[Note that Ardersier, Inverness, is the location of Fort George, the Home Base Barracks of the Seaforth Highlanders Regiment. This Census page shows a list of soldiers and families who were resident at Fort George at the time of the Census. I am using the Army spelling STEVENS here, because once you are stamped by the Army, you remain as such throughout military records.]

The 1911 Census shows that JOHN STEVEN, was already a trained soldier when WW1 began.
His Medal Roll Index Card (MIC) (1 of 2, attached) shows that 'STEVENS, J. E., 342 L/Sgt and CSM', was serving in the 2nd Bn Seaforth Highlanders.  This tends to show that his rank was Lance Sergeant when he went to France with the 2nd Bn. This MIC also shows the 'Campaign:- B.E.F. 1914'.
It also shows that his brother 'Mr T. E. STEVENS' applied for his brother's 1914 Star Medal on 19 May 1919.
A newspaper clipping taken from The Daily Record dated 3 Nov 1916, (attached) indicates that JOHN STEVEN enlisted when he was 15 years old.

The War Diary for the 2nd Bn Seaforth Highlanders shows that the Battalion arrived in Boulogne, France on 23 Aug 1914.
I cannot find any records to show when he was transferred to the 7th Battalion, or promoted to Company Sergeant Major (CSM). The rank of CSM was classified by the Army as Warrant Officer, Class 2.
A 2nd MIC (2 of 2) showing this rank is attached.

JOHN STEVEN, D.C.M. was Killed-In-Action on on 12 Oct 1916, age 24.
 

The Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC) entry for JOHN STEVEN, D.C.M. shows that he is commemorated at THIEPVAL MEMORIAL, Somme, France. There are 72,337 identified casualties listed on THIEPVAL MEMORIAL.

JOHN STEVEN, D.C.M. is commemorated at The Scottish National War Memorial (SNWM) in Edinburgh Castle.

The entry in Soldiers Died in the Great War (SDGW) shows that JOHN STEVEN, D.C.M. was born and enlisted in Hamilton.

The Medal Rolls Index Card (MIC) for JOHN STEVEN, D.C.M. shows that he was awarded The 1914 Star Medal, The Victory Medal and The British War Medal.

The "Soldier's Effects" record shows that his 'brother' Thomas E. Steven received his Outstanding Pay of £18/13/4, and a War Gratuity of £19/10/-.

The London Gazette No 29760 of 22 Sep 1916, page No 9302, shows (attached):
342 Coy. S./M. J. Stevens, Sea Highrs.
"For conspicuous gallantry during operations. He led a bombing party against an enemy strong point, which was holding up the attack. His party broke through and bombed up the enemy's trenches in face of strong opposition. He has shown great bravery and coolness in action".
The above was repeated in:
The Edinburgh Gazette No 12990 of 22 Sep 1916, page No 1734 (attached).

A newspaper clipping from The Daily Record dated 3 Nov 1916, reads:
"Sergt-Major John Steven, Seaforths, belonging to Larkhall, has been killed in France. He was 23 years of age, and enlisted when he was 15 years of age. He took part in the battle of Mons, and was awarded the D.C.M."

Walter Smith sent me a clipping taken from The Hamilton Advertiser dated 15 Nov 1916.
It shows a photograph (above) of JOHN STEVEN, and reads:
"(3) Sergt-Major John Steven, D.C.M. (Seaforths), Larkhall, killed."

On 3 Jun 1925, his father George Steven, age 66, died at 19 Bothwell Road, Hamilton. His 'Usual Address' is shown as 27 John Street, Larkhall. His death record also shows that he was married to: 1 - Mary Edwards, and 2 - Jeanie Chapman.

A copy of the Soldier's Will of JOHN STEVEN, DCM, Company Sergeant Major (CSM) 342, 7th Bn Seaforth Highlanders is attached. It was normal practice for the Army to cause a soldier to write his Will before leaving the UK to enter a Theatre of War. This document is dated 8 Aug 1914. It shows that on that date JOHN STEVEN was a Corporal in 'D' Company of the the 2nd Battalion of the Seaforth Highlanders.
It reads (in his own hand-writing):
"In the event of my Death I give the whole of my property and Effects to my Brother
Mr Thomas Steven,
Cross House,
Kirkintilloch
By Glasgow
Signed this day 8th August, 1914.
342 Cpl J. E. Stevens
'D' Company
2nd Seaforth Highlanders
Shorncliffe."
[Shorncliffe Army Camp, Kent, England, was where the 2nd Battalion mustered before embarking at Southampton for France.]

Lest We Forget!

Soldier's Will of 342 Corporal J. E. STEVENS, 'D' Company, 2nd Bn Seaforth Highlanders, dated 8 Aug 1914, at Shorncliffe.

Medal Rolls Index Card (MIC) 1 of 3.

Medal Rolls Index Card (MIC) 2 of 3 - Warrant Officer Class 2 (CSM).

Medal Rolls Index Card (MIC) 3 of 3 showing the award of the DCM.

Citation for the award of the DCM.

The London Gazette No 29760 of 22 Sep 1916.

The Edinburgh Gazette No 12990 of 22 Sep 1916.

Soldier's Effects Record No 1

Soldier's Effects Record No 2

CWGC Commemorative Certificate