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.
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