Stevenson, George
Private
No. 31897, 18th Battalion, Highland Light Infantry
Killed in action on Sunday 19 August 1917 (aged 38)
No known grave
Commemorated:
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
Thiepval Memorial, France (Pier and Face 15 C)
Newtownards and District War Memorial
Kilwinning War Memorial
BIOGRAPHY
George Stevenson was born on 16 January 1879 in the townland of Ballywatticock, Newtownards and he was a son of Samuel and Rose Ann Stevenson (nee McMullen, sometimes Mullen) who were married on 24 October 1866 in Newtownards Parish Church of Ireland Church (St Mark’s). Samuel Stevenson from Newtownards was a son of Samuel Stevenson, a blacksmith. Rose Ann McMullen from Newtownards was a daughter of John McMullen, a labourer.
Samuel Stevenson worked as a labourer and he and Rose Ann had at least seven children:
Samuel (born 9 March 1867 in Ballyblack)
John (born 3 May 1869 in Ballyhaft)
Eliza Ann (born 19 January 1871 in Ballyblack)
William (born 4 March 1873 in Ballywatticock)
Hugh George (born 14 May 1875 in Ballyrea)
Ellen Jane Dalzell (born 19 February 1877 in Ballyrea)
George (born 16 January 1879 in Ballywatticock)
When George Stevenson was in his late teens he moved to Scotland where he worked as a stone-breaker. He and Agnes Dunn were married on 5 June 1908 in Dalry Church of Scotland, Ayrshire and they lived in Carment Drive, Stevenson before moving to 27 Almswall Road in Kilwinning.
George and Agnes Stevenson had two sons:
John (born 17 March 1910 in Carment Drive, Stevenson)
Robert Boyle (born 1911)
George Stevenson enlisted in Kilwinning and was posted to France at the beginning of 1917. Some eight months later, on 19 August 1917, he was killed in action.
George Stevenson’s brother and sister-in-law, John and Sarah Stevenson, lived at 25 Mill Street, Newtownards. After George died they placed a For King and Country notice in the Newtownards Chronicle and it contained the verse:
His King and country called him,
He died in a distant land;
A loving mother waits in Heaven
To take him by the hand.
Private George Stevenson was 38 when he died and he has no known grave.
Private George Stevenson is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial in France; on Newtownards and District War Memorial and on Kilwinning War Memorial.
Private George Stevenson’s widow Agnes died on 26 September 1941 in Kilmarnock Infirmary.