Also Served: George Stephenson - George STEPHENSON
5 Market Place, Prescot Lieutenant, Devonshire Yeomanry 
Pictured as a Private in the Denbighshire Yeomanry
Courtesy of the Stephenson family
Like the other Stephenson brothers, Charles and Claude, George was born in Nottingham around 1891 and moved to Prescot in 1900. He was a keen cyclist prior to the outbreak of WW1 and a member of the Anfield Bicycle Club, and his letters home from the army appeared regularly in the club newsletter.
George enlisted in late 1916 as a Private with the 2/1 Denbighshire (Hussars) Yeomanry Cyclists Battalion. In August 1917 his letters reported that he was training as a Cadet (No.4 Coy, G.O.C. Magdalene College Cambridge). The in December of that year he was serving as 2nd Lieutenant with 2/1 Royal 1st Devon Yeomanry (East Dereham).
By June 1918 he was at Curragh Camp, Co. Kildare, in Ireland, then Mullingar Co. W Meath, and lastly Oldcastle Co. Meath. His letters describe in detail his training, the qualities of Army bicycles / equipment and opinions of his fellow cyclists. As a Private during training he was "booked" twice for not cleaning the inside of the mudguards of his machine.
He qualified as a "Marksman" (about 5th in his Regiment). After officer training he was provided with a Humber bicycle and "his own man to clean it". While in Ireland he wrote that he was responsible for "500 bicycles", also describing how his duties included the role of "station master of Leixlip" (near Dublin) - "a splendid life".
He became a full Lieutenant with the 1st Devonshires in April of 1919.
George lived in Prescot from 1900 to 1930, when he moved to Huyton. He married Rhoda Lauder, sister of Joseph and William Lauder both of whom are recorded in 'Also Served'. George became the editor of the ABC magazine, and his firm published it.
George died in Whiston Hospital in 1956, aged 64, and his obituary stated that he had worked for the family printing form for 40 years, where he was works manager as well as being a director. His two sons Harold and Peter, were also directors of the company. Peter continued to publish the ABC Magazine until 1960 and remained a member of ABC until his death a few years ago. Peter's son Michael continues to run the family business today.
Additional information kindly provided by Mr David Birchall of the Anfield Bicycle Club www.anfieldbc.co.uk
George Stephenson's entry in the National Probate Register
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