STEPHENS, Joshua

Joshua Stephens lived at Langley and enlisted in the Worcester Territorials. He went to the 1/8th Battalion which was serving on the Western Front from 1915 and which had fought hard in the long 1916 Battle of the Somme. In March 1917 the Worcesters joined the troops following the retirement of the German armies to the Hindenburg Line. There was a particularly successful action for the 1/8th when they stormed the 'Mound' at Templeux-Guerard in snow on the 5th April. Then on the 24th they followed up with a similar action on Guillemont Farm. However, the Germans attempted a counter-attack and casualties were taken. Among them was Private Joshua Stephens who is commemorated on the Thiepval, Blackheath and Halesowen Memorials.