William Bowen Stephens
142158 SAPPER WILLIAM BOWEN (WILLIE) STEPHENS, ROYAL ENGINEERS
LLANGAMMARCH WELLS - ON LEAVE-
Pte Willie Stephens, the post office, is home on furlough.
Brecon County Times 8 June 1916
LLANGAMMARCH WELLS - TOUCHING INCIDENT
Private Willie Stephens, who is a telegraphist with the forces in Mesopotamia, has been in hospital for some time suffering from the effects of the heat. He is now recovering. In a letter to the Rector, Rev J Evans (who takes a keen interest in his boys), he says that one day he heard a voice in a room close by singing "I heard the voice of Jesus say, come unto me and rest," and it touched him deeply, and brought home to him memories of his experience as a chorister in Llangammarch Church. In the letter he asked the Rector if he would kindly have this hymn sung, and also hymns "Thou art coming, O my Saviour," "Ten thousand times ten thousand," "Jesus shall reign where'er the sun," and the 137th Psalm. Last Sunday evening these fine hymns and Psalm were sung most effectively by the choir and congregation, and there was in the singing some indefinable feeling that shewed that all were putting their whole mind and soul into the words. The Rector preached a very appropriate and impressive sermon from Jeremiah 51st c. and 51st v. Mr Willie Stephens is the son of Mr Stephens, the Post Office, who is conductor of the Church choir.
Brecon County Times 16 November 1916
IN INDIAN HOSPITALS. MORE FROM SAPPER STEPHENS, WHO WAS IN MESOPOTAMIA.
Spr. W.B. Stephens, R.E., a native of Llangammarch, writing from Bombay, where he is in hospital, having been invalided from Mesopotamia, says:-I was reluctantly compelled to do a tour of the hospitals straight from the trenches gradually finding my way to the base general hospital, some 400 miles down the river Tigris to Basra. I was then carried on to a hospital ship, and transferred to another, eventually landing at Bombay. Here a fleet of Red Cross cars were in readiness to convey us to the different hospitals. These cars were gifts of Rajahs, chiefs, and other wealthy Indians. I also had a trip in the hospital car, named "Welshpool", given, I believe, by the good people of that town. They have special hospitals for the different cases. The chief treatment for dysentery is diet (or, rather no "grub"), and a course of "serum" and "vaccine" inoculations, which numbered thirteen, and, if no improvement is noticeable, you click for another course. Your arm becomes awfully sore and swollen. A patient lay next to me out of the Royal Irish Fusiliers, who was well away on his second course. The doctor came along with his "hypodermic" needle and asked him how he felt. "Och! and my arum is very sore - don't think there's a spot ye ain't stuck. So I'm thinking ye'd bet- ter start on me legs this morn, sir!" The doctor actually smiled - a rare occurrence.
Meets a Brecon Man.........
While in dock I met yet another Brecon man, named Gittens. Brecon town seems well represented in these parts. The present hospital I am in has a thousand beds in one ward, not to mention doctors, sisters, and staff's quarters. Some ward, eh! We have some fine concerts, given by the city artistes, which are much appreciated. We also hold our own concert nightly from 7 to 9, and some very good stuff, too. The Australian sisters are "ripping," simply "Anzac." Owing to her boys being so good the previous night (no pillow-fighting or cat-calls), she actually gave us a "sweet issue," out of which I got three "brandy balls". This quantity might seem insignificant individually, but it is heavy in the aggregate. The hospital is right over the docks. When the transports from Blighty arrive, we give the lads a rousing cheer, mixed with a little humorous sarcasm such as "where are your armlets?" and "have you any C.O's on board?" etc. Then there follows the usual string of questions. What is it like up there matey? Oh! not too bad, only about 125 in the shade, and a few mosquitoes, flies, and other objectionable insects which crawl. There is a great oppor- tunity for entomologists. You must keep your caps on, your hearts up, and your head down, unless you wish to have "a tap". You see how comical we all look! Yes! we were thinking you looked a bit queer. What's up? Oh, we wanted a rest, so they sent us here. We did our best to cheer them. In an hour they were on another beat and gone. Little they knew we were all down with diseases. The conditions are being wonderfully improved which will, undoubtedly, decrease fevers, plagues etc. We are daily expecting to be sent up country for a mile to convalesce before returning to our depots. I really must tell you this little story, which is true. There were eight of us writing (although we never get any letters) together, when the chaplain came and asked if we were happy? Yes, sir, very, was the reply - I haven't had a smoke for five days! Ah! I am so glad you are giving it up! May I ask if you have anv views on religion? No sir, but I have some picture post-cards of Bombay. Exit! Padre. This morning we were inspected by H.E., the Commander-in-Chief in India, Lieut.-General Sir Charles Monro, K.C.B.
Brecon and Radnor Express 30 November 1916
LLANGAMMARCH WELLS: A SECOND SON LOST-
On Saturday last a telegram reached Mr Stephens, the Post Office, conveying the sad news that his son, Sapper Willie Stephens, had died in hospital at Bombay. The same morning a letter had been received from Sapper Stephens, written in November, when he was in hospital in Mesopotamia. It was there he broke down owing to the héat, and in time, after partial recovery, he was sent to India. Much sympathy is felt for the father and family. The deceased was about 24 years of age, but was never very strong. He was a very intelligent young man, and was in the telegraph department. He had been a church member, and in the church choir at Llangammarch from his childhood. A memorial service will be held in church next Sunday evening. Another son of Mr Stephens (Eddie) was killed in France last year.
Brecon County Times 7 December 1916
A memorial service for the late Willie Stephens, son of Mr Stephens, the Post Office, who died in hospital on active service, was held in the Parish Church last Sunday evening. The service opened with the National Anthem and included special Psalms (23 and 137) and hymns 399, 257, 537, and 595 A. & M., the last named sung kneeling after the Blessing. Before the Blessing the "Last Post" was sounded by buglers. It was altogether a most impressive service. The Rector preached from Numbers 23 ch., 10th verse, "Let me die the death of the righteous and let my end be like his." In the course of his sermon he remarked that the late brother had been a faithful member of the choir and of the Sunday school. He had received several letters from him which shewed that God was very near to him, and that he died for his country, and God had called him. He had received letters from several other young men who were serving their country written in a similar strain, shewing that they put their trust in God, and these letters had given him great satisfaction as a minister of God's word. There was a large congregation present, and at the close the organist (Miss Evelyn Arthur) played "O rest in the Lord".
Brecon County Times 14 December 1916
Last week Mr W. Stephens (Post Office) received a letter from the chaplain of the War Hospital. Bombay. The letter stated that he had conducted the burial service of his son in the Cemetery at Bombay, and that it was a military funeral. The Royal Irish Fusiliers fired three volleys over the grave and sounded the last post. The letter further stated that his comrades, who slept in the bed next to him, spoke of him as such a nice gentlemanly fellow. Mr Stephens is in communication with parties in Bombay, with a view to having a stone erected over his grave, with a suitable inscription, so that anyone, who might in future visit Bombay would be able to find his grave.
Brecon and Radnor Express 4 January 1917
Commonwealth War Graves Commisssion Memorial