Corporal Alfred Henry Stevens Royal Electrical Mechanical Engineers
1939-45 Star. Pacific Star. War Medal 1939-45.
The Man Alfred Henry Stevens was born on Tuesday 9th October 1917 at 71 Camplin Street, Lewisham, London, son of John, a Locomotive Driver and Jane nee Harris. He was Baptised on 16th November at Christ Church Camberwell and one five children, Leonard John born in 1907, Francis Olive 1909, Frank L 1912 and Albert Edward 1916.
The 1921 census shows the family, minus John still living at 71 Camplin Street and Alfred aged three is at school. Following his education, he became a factory worker and in 1939 was living at 155 Torridon Road, Lewisham with his mother and Albert. His occupation was given as a Lift Erector (Heavy Worker).
Following the outbreak of World War II on 3rd September 1939, he married Edna Doris Edbrooke in Bristol during the last quarter of the year and they lived at Torringdon Road. They did not have long to enjoy their marriage as Alfred was called up into the Royal Artillery Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment with service number 7623365, later being transferred to the Royal Army Ordnance Corps.
In 1942 the Royal Electrical Mechanical Engineers absorbed most of the RAOC repair functions and Alfred was transferred, promoted to Corporal and Acting Sergeant. He was transported to Singapore to assist with the defence of the peninsular, but when the garrison surrendered on 17th February 1942, he was taken as a Prisoner of War of the Japanese and shipped overland to Burma where he was forced to work on the infamous Burma Railway.
Alfred survived until 6th November 1943, when aged 26, he succumbed to the harsh conditions and died of Beriberi and was cremated. His ashes were interred in plot B3.T.7 at Thanbyuzayat Commonwealth War Grave Cemetery in Myanmar.
Alfred was posthumously awarded his 1939-45 Star, Pacific Star and War Medal 1939-45 which were sent to Edna at Torridon Road.
The 1921 census shows the family, minus John still living at 71 Camplin Street and Alfred aged three is at school. Following his education, he became a factory worker and in 1939 was living at 155 Torridon Road, Lewisham with his mother and Albert. His occupation was given as a Lift Erector (Heavy Worker).
Following the outbreak of World War II on 3rd September 1939, he married Edna Doris Edbrooke in Bristol during the last quarter of the year and they lived at Torringdon Road. They did not have long to enjoy their marriage as Alfred was called up into the Royal Artillery Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment with service number 7623365, later being transferred to the Royal Army Ordnance Corps.
In 1942 the Royal Electrical Mechanical Engineers absorbed most of the RAOC repair functions and Alfred was transferred, promoted to Corporal and Acting Sergeant. He was transported to Singapore to assist with the defence of the peninsular, but when the garrison surrendered on 17th February 1942, he was taken as a Prisoner of War of the Japanese and shipped overland to Burma where he was forced to work on the infamous Burma Railway.
Alfred survived until 6th November 1943, when aged 26, he succumbed to the harsh conditions and died of Beriberi and was cremated. His ashes were interred in plot B3.T.7 at Thanbyuzayat Commonwealth War Grave Cemetery in Myanmar.
Alfred was posthumously awarded his 1939-45 Star, Pacific Star and War Medal 1939-45 which were sent to Edna at Torridon Road.
The Story The medals awarded to Alfred Henry Stevens were acquired from Worcestershire Medal Services on 6th February 2025, whilst in Thailand!
They were of immediate interest as Alfred had died working on the Burma Railway and buried in Myanmar, a sub-theme of this collection.
Ancestry and the commonwealth War graves enabled a brief biography to be pieced together, although sadly at time of writing, Myanmar is not safe enough to travel to in order to visit his grave.
They were of immediate interest as Alfred had died working on the Burma Railway and buried in Myanmar, a sub-theme of this collection.
Ancestry and the commonwealth War graves enabled a brief biography to be pieced together, although sadly at time of writing, Myanmar is not safe enough to travel to in order to visit his grave.
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Plot B3.T.7 at Thanbyuzayat Commonwealth War Grave Cemetery in Myanmar.
Alred's posthumous award box for his medals addressed to Edna Doris Stevens, his wife.
Alfred Steven's Japanese PoW Record Card.
Alfred Henry STEVENS is one of 27 soldiers in this collection who perished whilst working on the Burma Railaway and whose final resting place is Kanchanaburi or Chungkai Commonwealth War Cemeteries in Thailand or Thanbyuzayat in Myanmar. May their souls rest in eternal peace. Click on each name to read about:
- John AXON
- Thomas BURNS
- William James Johnstone BYERS
- Walter Richard COLBERT
- Percy Denis CORNWELL
- Joseph DUCKWORTH
- Harold Edward EKE
- Kenneth Robert EYLAND
- Charles Nevil Worton FOX
- Denys John HYDE
- George Sidney JOHNSON
- Charles Roger LLOYD
- Stanley Richard LOVEDAY
- Myles McMANUS
- Raymond Ernest MADGETT
- Alexander MALCOLM
- Alfred Arthur MANNING
- John MARKS
- Horace Edgar MAXWELL
- James Gordon MITCHELL
- Edward John PHILLIPS
- George Edward RUDDICK
- Kenneth William SHIPP
- Harold Norman SPALDING
- Walter Leonard TAYLOR
- Henry Garnsey VEITCH
Medal Details:
- 1939-45 Star: Unnamed as awarded.
- Pacific Star: Unnamed as awarded.
- War Medal 1939-45: Unnamed as awarded.
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This page last updated 26 Mar 25
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