From Spink, November 2008
CMG n/b
CBE n/b
DSO GV
MC GV (‘Major A. Stephenson. 9th King’s Own Yorkshire Light Infantry. L’Epinette Salient March 1st 1916’)
QSA (3) Orange Free State, South Africa 1902, South Africa 1901 (98 Tpr. A. Stephenson. O.R. Scouts)
1914-15 Star (Capt: A. Stephenson. Yorks: L.I.)
BWM & VM with MID (Lt. Col. A. Stephenson.)
War Medal
Coronation 1937
CMG London Gazette 1.1.1919 T/Lt.-Col. Arthur Stephenson, DSO MC R. Scots, ‘For services rendered in connection with operations in France and Flanders.’
CBE London Gazette 8.6.1939 Lieutenant-Colonel Arthur Stephenson, CMG DSO MC ‘For public services in Northern Rhodesia.’
DSO London Gazette 1.1.1918 T./Lt.-Col. Arthur Stephenson, MC R. Scots.
MC London Gazette 30.3.1916 Temporary Captain Arthur Stephenson, 9th Battalion, The King’s Own (Yorkshire Light Infantry), ‘For conspicuous gallantry. During a heavy bombardment by the enemy a man was wounded and lying in an exposed position on the parapet. Captain Stephenson and a Lance-Corporal rescued him, and rendered first aid, although they had to move their position three times owing to the trench being blown in.’
MID London Gazette 4.1.1917 Stephenson, Temp. Maj. A., MC Yorkshire Light Infantry ‘For distinguished and gallant services and devotion to duty.’
MID London Gazette 18.2.1917 Stephenson, Temp. Lt.-Col. A MC Royal Scots
MID London Gazette 20.12.1918 Stephenson, T./Lt.-Col. A DSO MC R. Scots ‘For distinguished and gallant services and devotion to duty during the period 25th February 1918 to midnight 16th/17th September 1918.’
Lieutenant-Colonel Arthur Stephenson, CMG CBE DSO MC (1881-1950), born Devon; moved to South Africa and served as a Trooper in the Orange River Scouts during the Boer War.
He stayed in South Africa after the War and served in the Southern Rhodesia Civil Service, 1902-04; served in the Northern Rhodesia Civil Service, 1904-12; returned to England, May 1915, for service in the Great War, and served on the Western Front with the 9th (Service) Battalion King’s Own Yorkshire Light Infantry, from later that year; Temporary Major 24.4.1916; Stephenson’s Battalion as part of the 64th Brigade, 21st Division, were present on the first day of the Battle of the Somme,1.7.1916; on the latter date, in conjunction with the 10th Battalion K.O.Y.L.I.’s, they took part in operations at Fricourt where they successfully captured two lines of enemy trenches within 10 minutes; the battalion withdrew the next day having suffered 455 casualties; the 9th Battalion were in action again during the operations at Gueudecourt, 16.9.1916, when they advanced under heavy fire from the south-eastern side of Flers towards Gird Trench; they fell short of the objective by 50 yards and withdrew during the night having suffered 389 casualties during the action; the Regimental History gives the 9th Battalion as having suffered 44 officers and 955 other ranks killed or wounded during July-September’s fighting; Stephenson transferred to the 16th (Service) Battalion (2nd Edinburgh) Royal Scots Regiment, 26.11.1916, and was made Temporary Lieutenant-Colonel Officer Commanding, 10.12.1916 (M.I.D.); after the War he returned to Rhodesia and was appointed Commandant Northern Rhodesia Rifles, 1919-25; being also made Chief Intelligence Officer for Northern Rhodesia, June 1920; Commandant Northern Rhodesia Police, 1925-30; before returning to a Military capacity with the outbreak of the Second World War, as Lieutenant-Colonel East African Forces, 1939-42; appointed as a Member of the Executive Council of Northern Rhodesia, January 1940, and served in that capacity for many years.