Selected Biographies

Stebbing, Archibald Roland – Born: Foxearth, Essex on 3.9.1895.[1]  Parents: George William Stebbing (Miller for Branwhite & Sons Ltd of Long Melford) and Rachel [née Mitchell].  Family Connections: Brother to Charles William Stebbing [b1893] and Harold Reginald Stebbing [b1898].  Home: Chapel Green, St Marys, Long Melford [1898], Station Road, Long Melford (1901), 8 Rotten Row, Long Melford (1911), 6 Star Cottages, St Catherine Road, Long Melford (1921), Branksome, High Street, Great Wakering, Essex (1939), 173 High Street, Great Wakering [1985].  Occupation: Baker and Confectioner for C.W. Coley of Long Melford (1911), Baker and Pastry Cook (1939).  Married: Carrie Bentley in 1918.  Service Record: Archibald enlisted in 1914 as Pte. S/32993 with the Army Service Corps, posted to France from 10.8.1914 and later attached to 9^th Divisional Supply Column.  The Division saw action at the Battle of Loos in 1915 and during the Somme Offensive of 1916.  He was transferred as Pte. L/97698 to the Royal Fusiliers and is recorded as a Lance Corporal serving with 2/4^th [City of London] Battalion [Royal Fusiliers] at his marriage in 1918.  He later transferred as Pte. S/43642 to 1/5^th [The Sutherland and Caithness] Battalion, Seaforth Highlanders [Ross-shire Buffs, The Duke of Albany’s].  All three units saw action during the Battles of Arras and Third Ypres in 1917.[2]  Died: Great Wakering, Essex on 9.7.1985.[3]

Stebbing, Charles – Born: Belchamp Walter, Essex on 30.9.1885.[4]  Parents: Robert Stebbing (Horseman on Farm) and Frances [née Stammers].  Family Connections: Uncle of Charles Henry Stebbing [b1889] and Robert Stebbing [b1898].  Home: Belchamp Walter, Essex (1891 to 1901), 5 Pelham Road, Ilford, Essex (1921), 2 Lionel Cottages, Brook Road, Tolleshunt Knights, Essex (1939) to [1950].  Occupation: Stockman on Farm (1901), Public Park Keeper (1921).  Married: Alice Edith Britton in 1911.  Service Record: Charles enlisted in 1903 as Pte.6661 with 1^st Battalion, Suffolk Regiment transferring to the Army Reserve in 1906.  He was mobilized on 5.8.1914 but was immediately discharged as ‘No longer physically fit for War Service’. Notwithstanding his previous rejection by the army, he enrolled as N^o.306272 with the Royal Air Force on 12.10.1918 as an officer’s batman, receiving his discharge in April 1920.[5]  Died: Tolleshunt Knights, Essex in 1950.

Stebbing, Charles Henry – Born: Borley, Essex in 1889.  Parents: Henry Stebbing (Horseman on Farm) and Ursula [née Finch].  Family Connections: Brother to Robert Stebbing of Long Melford [b1899] and nephew of Charles Stebbing [b1885].  Home: Skates Hill, Glemsford, Suffolk (1891), Little Cornard, Suffolk (1901), The Blacksmiths, Great Canfield, Essex (1911), Little Easton, Dunmow, Essex [1917].  Occupation: Blacksmith (1911).  Married: Dorothy Grace Eustace in 1917.  Service Record: Charles enlisted in 1915 as a Shoeing Smith N^o. 98905 with the Royal Field Artillery, was posted to France from 1.8.1915 with 37^th Divisional Ammunition Column and was still serving as a blacksmith with the artillery at the time of his marriage in June 1917.  His unit was action on the Western Front at the Battle of the Ancre in 1916 and the following year during the Arras Offensive and the Third Battles of Ypres.  He was later transferred as Gnr.202322 to the Royal Garrison Artillery, receiving his discharge in 1919.[6]  Died: Greenwich, London in 1939.

Stebbing, Charles William – Born: Long Melford, Suffolk on 29.12.1893.[7]  Parents: George William Stebbing (Miller for Branwhite & Sons Ltd of Long Melford) and Rachel [née Mitchell].  Family Connections: Brother to Archibald Roland Stebbing [b1895] and Harold Reginald Stebbing [b1899].  Home: Station Road, Long Melford (1901 and 1911).  Occupation: Packer for Stafford Allen and Sons, Distillers of Herbal Oils [1912], Soldier [1912 to 1918].  Service Record: Charles enlisted in 1912 as Dvr. T/775 with Headquarters Company, Army Service Corps, transferring on 5.8.1914 as Dvr.T4/211968 to 2^nd [Reserve] Company, ASC, then on 29.7.1916 to 668^th [Horse Transport] Company, ASC.  He was posted to Salonika from 19.8.1916 with 120^th [HT] Company, ASC, as part of 28^th Divisional Train, hauling supplies to the front-line troops.  He returned to England and transferred to 662^nd [HT] Company, ASC on 4.8.1918.  On 20.10.1918 he was posted to France but admitted to hospital with influenza on the following day.[8]  Died: Charles died on 30.10.1918 at N^o. 8 Stationary Hospital at Wimereux, is buried in Terlincthun British Cemetery [grave ref: IX.A.4], Wimille, Pas-de-Calais, France and commemorated on the Long Melford War Memorial.[9]

Stebbing, Harold Reginald – Born: Long Melford, Suffolk in 1.6.1898.[10]  Parents: George William Stebbing (Miller for Branwhite & Sons Ltd of Long Melford) and Rachel [née Mitchell].  Family Connections: Brother to Charles William Stebbing [b1893] and Archibald Roland Stebbing [b1895].  Home: Station Road, Long Melford (1901), 8 Rotten Row, Long Melford (1911), Station Road, Long Melford (1921), 5 Neville Road, Ilford, Essex (1939) to [1952].  Occupation: Railway Porter Guard (1939).  Married: Ivy Gladys Wheeler in 1924.  Service Record: Harold was conscripted as Pte.203370 with 1^st Battalion, Hertfordshire Regiment.  It is not known if he served overseas.[11]  Died: Ilford, Essex on 14.9.1952.[12]

Stebbing, Robert – Born: Long Melford, Suffolk on 2.8.1899.[13]  Parents: Henry Stebbing (Horseman on Farm) and Ursula [née Finch].  Family Connections: Brother to Charles Henry Stebbing [b1889] and nephew of Charles Stebbing [b1885].  Home: Rodbridge, Long Melford [1899], Little Cornard, Suffolk (1901), Ravens Cottage, High Street, Little Easton, Dunmow, Essex (1911 to 1921), Duck Street, Little Easton (1939).  Occupation: Stockman [1918], Tractor Driver (1939).  Married: Rosina Lucy Mills in 1928.  Service Record: Robert enlisted on 29.5.1918 as Pte.54839 with 9^th [Service] Battalion, Essex Regiment.  This battalion served on the Western Front as part of 35^th Brigade, 12^th [Eastern] Division from May 1915.  Given his recruitment date, Robert may not have joined the Battalion in the field and seeing action in the Battles of the Hindenburg Line and the Final Advance in Artois in September and October 1918.[14]  Died: Brentwood, Essex in 1951.

Notes – [1] Date of birth is taken from Admission Register 12.9.1898, St Catherines Infants School, Long Melford and the 1939 Register. [2] For change of regiment see Marriage Register 18.8.1918, Christchurch, East Knottingly, Yorkshire.    For details of 9^th DSC’s movements see War Diary [WO 95/666/1-3].  See also his Service Medal and Award Rolls 1914-1918 [WO 329] and Service Medal and Award Rolls Index Cards 1914-1922 [WO 372].  [3] National Probate Calendar.  My thanks to Nicola Jones ford sharing this image.  [4] Date of birth from his RAF Record.  [5] Air Member For Personnel And Predecessors: Airmen’s Records [AIR 79/2659].  [6] For details of 37^th DAC’s movements see War Diary [WO 95/2521/8].  Recorded as a Blacksmith with the Royal Field Artillery see Marriage Register 17.6.1917, St John Church, Deptford, London.  See also his Service Medal and Award Rolls 1914-1918 [WO 329] and Service Medal and Award Rolls Index Cards 1914-1922 [WO 372].  [7] Date of birth from Admission Register 12.4.1897, St Catherines Infants School, Long Melford. [8] Soldiers’ Documents, First World War ‘Burnt Documents’ [WO 363], Service Medal and Award Rolls 1914-1918 [WO 329], and Service Medal and Award Rolls Index Cards 1914-1922 [WO 372].  [9] Commonwealth War Graves Commission record and British Army Registers of Soldiers’ Effects, 1901-1929 file [ref: 839869].  [10] 1939 Register. [11] Service Medal and Award Rolls 1914-1918 [WO 329] and Service Medal and Award Rolls Index Cards 1914-1922 [WO 372]. [12] National Probate Calendar.  [13] Baptism Register 7.9.1899, St Catherines Mission Church, Long Melford. [14] For details of 9^th Essex’s movements in late 1918 see War Diary [WO 95/1851/4].  See also his Soldiers’ Documents, First World War ‘Burnt Documents’ [WO 363], Service Medal and Award Rolls 1914-1918 [WO 329] and Service Medal and Award Rolls Index Cards 1914-1922 [WO 372].