Alfred Leslie Stevens

Alfred Leslie (Leslie) was the eldest child of Alfred and Florence Stevens (nee Baker). Alfred and Florence were married in 1885 (J/A/S Nottingham) and were to have three children, Alfred Leslie (3 February 1887), Florence Ida (b. 13 June 1888) and William Duncan (birth registered 1891 A/M/J Nottingham). Alfred was a tailor, and in 1891 he and Florence were living at 150 Alfreton Road, Nottingham, with their first child, Alfred (4). They employed a domestic servant, Elizabeth Marriott (16). By 1901 Alfred (38) and Florence (38) and their three children, Alfred (14), Florence (12) and William (9) were living at 50 Burns Street, Nottingham. They employed one domestic servant, Edith Bradshaw (19). In 1911 they were at 1 Sherwood Rise, Nottingham, and only their eldest son, Alfred (24) was at home on the night of the census. The family now had two servants, Annie Webster (24) a cook, and Mabel Langford (18) a housemaid. William and Florence have not yet been traced on the 1911 Census, but Florence married Albert Edward Spowage in 1912 (marriage registered O/N/D Nottingham). Their parents later lived at 4 Third Avenue, Sherwood Rise, Nottingham, and this was given as the address of both William and Alfred at the time of their deaths in 1916 and 1917 respectively William, a lieutenant serving in the Canadian Infantry (British Columbian Rgt) 29th Bn, was killed at Ypres on 30 May 1916 aged 25 (Reninghelst New Military Cemetery). Their father, Alfred, died on 10 October 1939. Their sister, Florence Ida Spowage, died on 9 June 1971 at the age of 83.

He was educated at the Nottingham High School. In 1911 he was a manager (industry - 'tailor'), presumably in his father's business. He was a member of the Nottingham Rowing Club and University College Nottingham OTC.

Alfred Leslie Stevens was a member of the Officer Training Corps and was commissioned second-lieutenant in the 10th Bn Leicestershire Regiment in September 1914. He was promoted to lieutenant in November 1915 and served with the 1st Battalion Leicestershire Regiment in France. He was reported missing on 17th/18th April 1917 after a large-scale trench raid that night; his death was not confirmed until February the following year. Alfred Leslie has no known grave and is commemorated on the Loos Memorial, France (Panel 42 to 44).

Inscription family headstone, Nottingham (Church) Cemetery: (Also) Lieut Alfred Leslie [Stevens] reporting missing at Bethune April 18th 1917 aged 30 and Lieut William Duncan [Stevens] killed at Vormezeele May 30th 1916 aged 25 interred at Reninghelst, sons of Alfred and Florence Stevens.' Nottingham Evening Post, 8 Oct 1914 – War Items. Mr A Leslie Stevens, of 3rd Avenue, Sherwood-rise, has been gazetted Second-Lieutenant of the 10th Leicestershire Regiment. Mr Stevens, who was educated at the Nottingham High School, has been connected with the Officers’ Trainign Corps for some years.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) His parents donated a holy table and plate to St Nicholas in memory of their two sons. The inscription on the table read, “To the Glory of God this Holy Table was presented by Mr & Mrs Stevens in memory of their two only sons Alfred Leslie and William Duncan who laid down their lives in the Great War 1914-1919.” (Petition dated 4 August 1920 and Faculty dated 26 November 1920.) Probate: Stevens Alfred Leslie of 4 Third-avenue Sherwood Rise Nottingham lieutenant in HM Army died on or since 18 April 1917 in France or Belgium on active service Administration Nottingham 22 March to Alfred Stevens tailor. Effects £638 14s. Article published Nottingham Evening Post, 18th February 1918 :- “KILLED. “LIEUT. A. L. STEVENS. “Lieut. A. Leslie Stevens, Leicestershire Regiment, reported missing April last, is now reported killed. He was the son of Mr. Alfred Stevens, Third-avenue, Sherwood-rise, and was 31 years of age. He was educated at the Nottingham High School, and before the war was engaged with his father in the tailoring business on Long-row. For a short period he was in the University Officers' Training Corps, but was given his commission in September, 1914. He was promoted in November, 1915, and was engaged on instructional work until December, 1916, when he went to the front. Last April he led a raid, and was missed in the German third line. He is now posted as having been killed about that time. His brother, Lieut. W. Duncan Stevens, 29th Canadian Infantry, was killed in action on May 30th, 1916.” Above article is courtesy of Jim Grundy and his facebook pages Small Town Great War Hucknall 1914-1918 Probate: Stevens Alfred of 4 Third-avenue Nottingham died 10 October 1939 Probate Nottingham 4 March to Florence Ida Spowage (wife of Albert Edward Spowage). Effects £15768 18s. 3d.