Albert Alexander Leslie Stephen DSO Distinguished Service Order

Died:

31.10.1914

1SG
Aged 35
Buried at Ypres Town Cemetery, Belgium. E1, 13

STEPHEN, ALBERT ALEXANDER LESLIE, Lieutenant, was born 3 February 1879, son of Major J Z Stephen and Augusta Henrietta Mary (nee Ricketts). He was educated at Eton, and joined the Scots Guards 4 January 1899, becoming Lieutenant 4 April 1900. He served in the South African War, in which he was present at a large number of engagements.
He took part in the advance on Kimberley, with the action at Behnont, and was present at Enslin, Modder River and Magersfontein, and also at the operations in the Orange Free State, Transvaal, Orange River Colony and Cape Colony, including actions at Poplar Grove, Driefontein, Vet and Zand Rivers; the action near Johannesburg, those at Pretoria, Diamond Hill and Belfast.
From January 1901, he was Assistant Provost-Marshal to Pulteney's Column, and he was Intelligence Officer to Garrett's Column in 1902. He was twice mentioned in Despatches
[London Gazette, 10 September 1901, and 29 July 1902];
received the Queen's Medal with six clasps; the King's Medal
with two clasps, and was created a Companion of the
Distinguished Service Order [London Gazette, 31 October 1902]:
"Albert Alexander Leslie Stephen, Lieutenant, Scots Guards.
In recognition of services during the operations in South Africa".
He was promoted Captain 10 April 1904, and from April 1906 to March 1909, was employed with the Macedonian Gendarmerie under the Foreign Office; from March 1909 to January 1911, with the Turkish Gendarmerie. He was awarded the Order of the Medjidie, 3rd Class, and in 1911 the Coronation Medal. From September 1910 to September 1913, he was an Adjutant of the Territorial Force, and in April 1914, was appointed Adjutant of the 1st Battalion of his own regiment. Captain Stephen served in the European War, and was killed in action on the 31st of October 1914, just 12 years to the day after his DSO was gazetted.