11th Battalion, Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers (British Army)
Date Of Birth:
09/06/1898
Died:
20/11/1917 (Killed in Action)
Age:
19
Summary
Thomas Stevenson was the eldest son of Leonard and Susan (nee Cardwell) Stevenson. They were married about 1895. Thomas was born in Killyman, County Tyrone about 1899. The family lived in Corr, Killyman, Tyrone. Leonard Stevenson enlisted in Dungannon with the 11th Battalion of the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers. It would appear Thomas landed in France as a Private & his appointment to Lance Corporal occurred whilst on active service. Lance-Corporal Thomas Stevenson (29652) was killed in action near Cambrai on 20th November 1917, age 18.
Further Information
Thomas Stevenson was the eldest son of Leonard and Susan Stevenson. Leonard Stevenson married Susan Cardwell on 7th June 1895 in the district of Dungannon.
Thomas was born in Killyman, County Tyrone on 9th June 1898.He was one of eight children, seven surviving.
The 1901 census records Thomas as two years old. Leonard was a farmer. The family lived at house 28 in Corr, Killyman, County Tyrone.
Known family: Leonard Stevenson, Susan Stevenson, Gertrude Stevenson (born 17th August 1896), Thomas Stevenson (born 9th June 1898), Eleanor Stevenson (born 26th September 1899), Richard Stevenson (born 30th December 1902), John Stevenson (born 10th March 1905), Rachel Stevenson (born 28th February 1907), Matilda Stevenson (born 1st July 1909).
The 1911 census shows the family still living in Killyman, County Tyrone. Thomas Stevenson was twelve years old and still at school.
Thomas Stevenson enlisted in Dungannon.
It would appear Thomas landed in France as a Private & his appointment to Lance Corporal occurred whilst on active service.
Lance-Corporal Thomas Stevenson was serving with the 11th Battalion of the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers when he was killed instantaneously by a German bomb near Cambrai on Tuesday 20th November 1917.
From Fall's ‘History of the 36th’ on that day:-
'The 11th Inniskillings, for the final stage of the attack, had now moved in. This battalion met with somewhat stronger resistance. On the right some determined German bombers held up the advance for a while, the Lewis gunner not being able to see them. Here, as was generally the case, the Germans with their stick bombs out-ranged our men with the Mills, but the Mills rifle grenade more than restored the balance, and the Germans were driven steadily back. This company of the 11th Inniskillings was also able to give material assistance to the men of the 186th Brigade, across the Canal, by its Lewis-gun fire. Lock 6 was the last centre of strong resistance. Eventually the garrison fled across the Canal, though few of them reached the other side. About half-past three the Inniskillings crossed the Cambrai-Bapaume Road, and were soon afterward consolidating their position, with their outpost three or four hundred yards north of it. The bridge across the Canal here, it may be added, had been blown up hours earlier.'
From the Belfast Newsletter dated 25th December 1917:
Lance Corporal T Stevenson, Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers, Corr, Coalisland, killed.
From the Belfast Newsletter dated 27th December 1917:
Private William Kilpatrick, South African Infantry, killed in action on 8th December, was the second son of the late Mr John E Kilpatrick and Mrs Kilpatrick, Dungannon Street, Moy.
From the Tyrone Courier and Dungannon News dated Thursday 3 January 1918:
Stevenson, Lance Corporal, Thomas, Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers, killed in action on 20th November 1917, was a son of Mr Leonard Stevenson, Corr, Coalisland. Mr Stevenson has received the following letter from the deceased's Company Officer :-
'I offer you the sympathy of all ranks in my company on the loss of you son, Lance Corporal Thomas Stevenson. Though such a short time with us, he had already made a name for himself by his soldier-like bearing He was killed on 20th November while fighting. He suffered no pain as death was instantaneous caused by a German bomb. He died nobly fighting for his country and now lies beside the place where he made the great sacrifice.'
Lance-Corporal Thomas Stevenson has no known grave and is commemorated on the Cambrai Memorial at Louverval in France.
Cambria Memorial photo kindly donated by Bob Pike, courtesy of Carrie Pike, via the Great War Forum.
Lance-Corporal Thomas Stevenson is commemorated locally on Dungannon War Memorial.
The CWGC record Lance-Corporal Thomas Stevenson as the son of Leonard Stevenson of Corr, Coalisland, County Tyrone.
