Selected Biographies

Steed, Frederick Robert – Born: Stratford-le-Bow, Essex on 16.5.1877.[1]  Parents: Frederick Richold Steed of Long Melford [d1887] (Master Carpenter) and Susannah Ellen [née Mayne] [married to James Bird in 1889].  Family Connections: Brother-in-law of George Coates [b1880] and Stanley Joseph Reunen Vaines [b1884].  Home: The Green, Long Melford (1881), living with James Bird (stepfather) at Church Walk, Long Melford (1891), 45 Gordon Road, Dartford, Kent (1911), 6 Church Road, Maidstone, Kent (1939) to [1942].  Occupation: Brewer’s Cellarman (1911), Butcher [1914], Brewer’s Cellarman (1939).  Married: Elizabeth Parker [widow] in 1910.  Service Record: Giving his trade as a butcher, Frederick enlisted on 28.11.1914 as Pte.S4/035624 with the Supply Section of the Army Service Corps, being posted to France from 20.1.1915 to 9.3.1918.  In February 1919 he volunteered to join the Army of Occupation in Germany based in Cologne, receiving his discharge in the following year.[2]  Died: Maidstone, Kent on 15.2.1942.[3]

Steed, Henry – Born: Long Melford, Suffolk in 1852.  Parents: William Steed (Agricultural Labourer) and Sophia [née Taylor] (Laundress).  Home: Bull Lane Cottages, Bull Lane, Long Melford (1861 to 1891), inmate of HM Prison, Chelmsford, Essex (1901).  Occupation: Coconut Yarn Spinner (1861), Coconut Mat Weaver (1871 to 1891).  Married: Mary Ann Rising in 1873.  Criminal Record: After his wife’s untimely death in 1873 Henry appears to have had several brushes with the law resulting in him coming before the Melford Petty Sessions between 1881 and 1901.  His crimes include drunk and disorderly, five convictions for using obscene language, causing wilful damage and vagrancy, stealing a table knife and a month later stealing tame rabbit.  In 1901 he was arraigned before the West Suffolk Quarter Sessions at Bury St Edmunds, the indictment reading that he was found ‘Unlawfully wandering abroad and lodging in an outhouse belonging to George Whittle [his employer] without any visible means of subsistence, and not giving a good account of himself, at Melford, on the 22nd August 1901, he having been previously convicted as a rogue and vagabond, and sentenced to hard labour until the Sessions.’ For his latest foray he was ‘Convicted of being an incorrigible rogue and given four months imprisonment with hard labour.[4]  Died: Henry was found drowned in a tributary of the river Stour in Melford on 26.2.1902, only days after his release from prison.[5]

Steed, Harry John – Born: Long Melford, Suffolk on 1.6.1897.[6]  Parents: Harry Steed (Furniture Carman) and Ellen Beatrice [née Albon] (Laundress).  Family Connections: Brother-in-law of Percival Gladstone Messer [b1899].  Home: 461 High Road, Gunnersbury, Middlesex [1897], 10 Bridgemen Road, Acton, Middlesex (1901), 53 Whiting Street, Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk (1911).[7]  Service Record: Although no definitive military record has been found, Harry may have enlisted in January 1914 as Pte.1901 with ‘D’ Company, 5^th Battalion, Suffolk Regiment [Territorial].  At the outbreak of war this unit was reconstituted as 1/5^th Suffolks and posted to Suvla Bay, Gallipoli on 10.8.1915 as part of 153^rd Brigade, 54^th [East Anglian] Division.  Due to the paucity of information on his extant military records, it is not known if Private Steed was still serving with 1/5^th Suffolks after it was evacuated to Egypt.  If he was then he would have seen action during the Palestine Campaign of 1917/18.  The Medal Index Card quotes two further service numbers: as Pte.70460 and Cpl.5820515 but does not state to which Suffolk battalion they belong.  Harry Steed does appear to have stayed in the Army beyond 1918 as the record shows that he was the recipient of the India General Service Medal with the Clasp ‘Waziristan 1921-1924’, indicating that he had served on the North-West Frontier.[8]  Died: Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk in 1970.

Steed, Henry Wickham – Born: Long Melford, Suffolk on 10.10.1871.[9]  Parents: Joshua George Steed (Solicitor) and Fanny [née Wickham].  Family Connections: Brother to Joshua Owen Steed [b1870] and uncle of Joshua Lander Steed [b1910].  Home: Hall Street, Long Melford (1881), 54 Gower Road, Forest Gate, London (1891), 7 Lansdowne House, Lansdowne Road, Holland Park, London [1914 to 1939], Eynsham Hall, Eynsham, Oxfordshire [1939], Holly Bank, Wooton, Woodstock, Oxfordshire [1956].[10]  Occupation: Stockbroker’s Clerk (1891), Editor of The Times [1919-1922], Editor and Author [1927], Author, Journalist and Publicist.  Married: Violet Sybille Mason in 1937.  Service Record: Renowned expert and political prophet on Mitteleuropa, and author of the following works: The Socialist and Labour Movement in England, Germany and France [1894], The Hapsburg Monarchy [1913], A Short History of Austria-Hungary and Poland [co-author] [1914], Belgium, Italy and Switzerland [co-author] [1914], Through Thirty Years, 1892-1922 [1924], The British Empire and Locarno [1926], The Real Stanley Baldwin [1930], The Antecedents of Post-War Europe [1932], The Future of Europe [1933], The Great War, 1914-1918 [1934], A Way to Social Peace [1934], Hitler Whence and Whither [1934], The Meaning of Hitlerism [1934], Vital Peace: A Story of Risks [1936], The Doom of the Hapsburgs [1936], The Press [1938], Our War Aims [1939], The Fifth Arm, Some call it Propaganda [1940], That bad man: a tale for the young of all ages [On the career of Adolf Hitler] [1942].  Steed was a Foreign Correspondent for The Times from 1897 and the Paper’s editor from 1919 to 1922.[11]  Died: Wooton, Oxfordshire on 13.1.1956.[12]

Steed, Joshua Lander – Born: Sudbury, Suffolk on 3.5.1910.[13]  Parents: Francis George Steed (Solicitor) and Grace Maria [née Downing].  Family Connections: Nephew of Joshua Owen Steed [b1870] and Henry Wickham Steed [b1871].  Home: West View, Great Cornard, Suffolk (1911 to 1939), Eyston Hall, Borley Green, Essex [1984].  Occupation: Solicitor (1939).  Married: Barbara Grace Stringer in 1942 and Ruth M. Common in 1954.  Service Record: Joshua was granted a commission as Second Lieutenant with 232^nd Battery, 67^th [Suffolk] Medium Regiment, Royal Artillery, seeing action in North Africa from 1941 until his unit’s capture at Torbruk in 1942.  Died: Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk in 1984.

Steed, Joshua Owen – Born: Long Melford, Suffolk on 13.4.1870.[14]  Parents: Joshua George Steed (Solicitor) and Fanny [née Wickham].  Family Connections: Brother to Henry Wickham Steed [b1871].  Home: Hall Street, Long Melford (1871 and 1881), incorrectly recorded as Joshua Alcock, lodging with Louisa Alcock at 54 Gower Road, Forest Gate, London (1891), Hall Street, Long Melford (1901) to [1954].  Occupation: Solicitor’s Articled Clerk (1881 and 1891), Solicitor and Partner in Steed and Steed of Sudbury (1901) to [1954].[15]  Married: Ellen Clara Scott in 1908.  Service Record: Joshua became a Captain in 2^nd [Volunteer] Battalion, Suffolk Regiment in 1902 and from 1908 his commission was confirmed when the unit was restyled 5^th Battalion [Territorial] following the Haldane Reforms.  In civilian life he was the Clerk to Melford Rural District Council, Long Melford Magistrates Court and Commissioners of Taxes, and the Melford Military Service Tribunal from 1915 to 1918.  In 1917 he was a member of the South Suffolk National Service Committee and is recorded as one of the 14 vice-presidents of the Long Melford Ex-Service Men’s Club in 1922.[16]  Died: Sudbury, Suffolk on 13.12.1954.[17]

Steed, Leonard Walter – Born: Beckenham, Kent on 5.9.1896. [18] Parents: Walter John Steed of Long Melford and Elinor Adelaide [née Pearse].  Family Connections: Nephew of Percy Roland Steed [b1875].  Home: 3 Franklin Road, Penge (1901), 249 Beckenham Road, Beckenham, Kent (1911), 26 East Vale, Ealing, Middlesex (1939).  Occupation: Company Secretary (1939).  Married: Doris G. Burn in 1925.  Service Record: Leonard enlisted as Pte, later Cpl.TF/1975 with 1/5^th Battalion, Queen’s Own [Royal West Kent] Regiment, renumbered in 1917 as Cpl.240465 and attached to the Mechanized Transport section of the Army Service Corps.[19]  During the Second World War Leonard was a member of an Air Raid Precaution Casualty Assessment team.[20]  Died: Hammersmith, Middlesex in 1967.

Steed, Percy Roland – Born: Penge, London on 23.3.1879.[21]  Parents: Albert Orlando Steed of Long Melford (Teacher of Music) and Susan [née Silver].  Family Connections: Uncle of Leonard Walter Steed [b1896].  Home: 5 Queen Adelaide Road, Penge, Surrey (1881), 106 Maple Road, Penge (1891), 5 Montrave Road, Penge (1901), 65 Wigmore Gardens, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Northumberland (1911), 49 Bayswater Road, Newcastle-upon-Tyne [1918] to (1921), Long Rigg, Riding Hill, Hexham, Northumberland (1939) to [1965].  Occupation: Watchmaker’s Assistant (1901), Jeweller’s Assistant (1911 to 1939).  Married: Beatrice Evelyn Hutchinson in 1912.  Service Record: Percy was conscripted as Pte.168164 with the Labour Corps attached to the Durham Light Infantry, receiving his discharge on 31.8.1918.[22]  Died: Hexham, Northumberland on 25.5.1965.[23]

Steed, Samuel – Born: Long Melford, Suffolk in 1827.  Parents: Henry Theobald Steed (Cordwainer) and Elizabeth [née Hassell].  Home: Hall Street, Long Melford (1841), 1 Southampton Court, Portsea, Hampshire (1871).  Occupation: Servant [1847], Soldier [1847 to 1865].  Service Record: Samuel enlisted in 1847 as Pte.2470 with 43^rd Regiment of Foot, posted to the Cape of Good Hope between 1851 and 1852 where he saw action during the Eighth Xhosa War, transferring to India in 1854 and assisting in the suppression of the Indian Mutiny from 1857 to 1859.  He received discharge in 1865.[24]  Died: Portsea, Hampshire in 1880.

Related Biographies

Coates, Percival George – Born: Walthamstow, Essex on 14.11.1880.[25]  Parents: Charles Coates (Cooper) and Mary Ann [née Fenn].  Family Connections: Brother-in-law of Frederick Robert Steed [b1877].  Home: Selborne Road, Walthamstow, Essex (1891), 37 St Marys Road, Walthamstow (1891 to 1901), 120 Hibbert Road, Walthamstow (1911), 58 Rainsford Road, Chelmsford, Essex (1939).  Occupation: Tie Cutter (1901 to 1911), Confectioner and Tobacconist (1939).  Married: Clara May Steed of Long Melford in 1901.  Service Record: Percival was conscripted as Dvr. DM2/075305 with the Army Service Corps.[26]  During the Second World War he was an Air Raid Precaution Warden.[27]  Died: Chelmsford, Essex in 1955.

Howard né Eady, Henry ‘Harry’ Sydney – Born: Long Melford, Suffolk on 3.3.1887.[28]  Parent: Roseanna Eady (Horsehair Weaver).  Home: Cock and Bell Lane, Long Melford (1891), 31 Broomwood Road, Battersea, London (1911), 1 Belvedere Crescent, Labeth, London [1911], 32 Keildon Road, Southwark, London [1914].  Occupation: Milkman (1911) to [1914].  Married: Annie Sophia Steed of Long Melford in 1911.  Service Record: Harry enlisted as Pte.32103 with the Kings Royal Rifle Corps, later transferring as Pte.473298 to the Labour Corps.[29]  Died: Shepperton, Middlesex on 4.6.1952.

Messer, Percival Gladstone – Born: Holloway, London on 17.12.1899.  Parents: Percy Messer (Commercial Clerk) and Edith [née Reynolds].  Family Connections: Brother-in-law of Henry John Steed [b1897].  Home: 117 Grove Road, Holloway, London (1901), 21 Ainslie Road West, Chingford, Essex (1911), 311 Brettenham Road, Edmonton, Middlesex [1915], Beggars Bush Barracks, Dublin, Ireland (1921).  Occupation: Turner [1915], Soldier (1921).  Married: Lily May Steed in 1929.  Service Record: Percival enlisted on 29.7.1915 as Pte. Pte. L/16040 with 6^th Battalion, Middlesex Regiment, however he was discharged six weeks later ‘having made a misstatement as to age on enlistment.  He was later conscripted and posted to Ireland in 1921 as Spr.1856591 with N^o.1 Mobile Searchlight Group, Royal Engineers.  He was mobilized on 1.9.1939 and sent to France with 11^th Field Company, Royal Engineers as part of the British Expeditionary Force.  He was listed as missing on 1.6.1940 during the retreat to Dunkirk.[30]  Died: Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk in 1978.

Vaines, Stanley Joseph Reuben – Born: Leyton, Essex on 7.8.1884.[31]  Parents: Joseph Reuben Vaines (Fruiterer) and Ada Elizabeth [née Croker].  Family Connections: Brother-in-law of Frederick Robert Steed [b1877].  Home: 256 Hoe Street, Walthamstow, Essex (1891 to 1901), 124 Blythe Road, Leyton, Essex (1911), 165 Westborough Road, Westcliffe-on-Sea, Essex [1919] to (1921), 1 Eastwood Rise, Southend-on-Sea, Essex (1939).  Occupation: Life Assurance Agent (1911), Fruiterer (1921), Insurance Agent (1939).  Married: Emily Mayne Steed of Long Melford in 1907.  Service Record: Stanley was conscripted on 8.12.1915 as Gnr.211801 with 4^th Reserve Brigade, Royal Field Artillery, posted to France where he was wounded, later being issued with a Silver War Badge and discharged in August 1919.[32]

Notes – [1] Baptism Register 25.7.1877, Holy Trinity Church, Long Melford. [2] 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]. [3] National Probate Calendar.  [4] [HO 140] England & Wales, Crime, Prisons & Punishment, 1770-1935.  See also newspaper reports:  ‘Vagabond at Melford’ Suffolk and Essex Free Press 23.10.1901, 5.11.1881 and 8.10.1887. [5] The Evening Star 27.2.1902.  [6] Date of birth from Death Index. [7] For his earliest address see Baptism Register 28.11.1897, St James Church, Gunnersbury, Middlesex.  Recorded as John Steed on the UK Census for1911. [8] Harry Steed’s date of enlistment in January 1914 is implied by his service number which is sequentially like other Long Melford men who enrolled around that time.  For details of 1/5^th Suffolk’s time in Gallipoli see War Diary [WO 95/4325].  See also his Service Medal and Award Rolls 1914-1918 [WO 329] and Service Medal and Award Rolls Index Cards 1914-1922 [WO 372].  [9] 1939 Register. [10] Addresses from Telephone Directories. [11] His authorship from The British Library. [12] Date of death from the National Probate Calendar.  [13] 1939 Register.  [14] 1939 Register. [15] Occupation and offices from Kelly’s Directory for Suffolk 1916. [16] For notification of his commission see The London Gazette September 1908, p.6531. [17] Date of death from The London Gazette 14.1.1955, p.362.  [18] 1939 Register.  [19] See the Absent Voters List, Bromley Council 1918, also, Service Medal and Award Rolls 1914-1918 [WO 329] and Service Medal and Award Rolls Index Cards 1914-1922 [WO 372].  The Medal Roll records his name as Leonard Walker Steed (sic).  This has been assumed a misprint as no vital records can be found in this name.  [20] 1939 Register.  [21] 1939 Register.  [22] Pension Ledgers and Index Cards, 1914-1923 [ref: 2/MS/942].  [23] National Probate Calendar.  [24] British Army Service Records 1760-1915.  [25] 1939 Register.  [26] Service Medal and Award Rolls 1914-1918 [WO 329] and Service Medal and Award Rolls Index Cards 1914-1922 [WO 372].  [27] 1939 Register.  [28] Baptism Register 3.7.1887 Holy Trinity Church, Long Melford.  [29] Service Medal and Award Rolls Index Cards 1914-1922 [WO 372].  [30] Soldiers’ Documents, First World War ‘Burnt Documents’ [WO 363] and British Army, Royal Engineers 1900-1949.  [31] 1939 Register.  [32] WO 329 – Silver War Badge [ref: 270302], Pension Ledgers and Index Cards, 1914-1923 [ref: 11/M/79570], Service Medal and Award Rolls 1914-1918 [WO 329], and Service Medal and Award Rolls Index Cards 1914-1922 [WO 372].