Medals from the Collection of Gordon Everson

South Africa 1877-79, 1 clasp, 1877-8 (Capt. S. J. Stevens, 90th Foot) nearly extremely fine and a rare casualty £800-1000

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, Medals from the Collection of Gordon Everson.

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Stephen John Stevens was born in Tasmania, Australia, on 26 December 1846. He was appointed Ensign, by purchase, in the 29th Regiment on 21 August 1866, aged 19 years 8 months. He transferred to the 17th Regiment in the same rank in May 1869, and purchased his lieutenancy in the 90th Regiment on 15 April 1877, becoming Captain on 7 March 1877. He served with the 90th Light Infantry during the Gaika war of 1878, including the operations in the Waterkloof and the attack on the Taba Indoda - dangerously wounded (Mentioned in despatches London Gazette 11 June 1878, Brevet of Major, Medal with Clasp).

According to Field Marshal Sir Evelyn Wood in From Midshipman to Field Marshal, Stevens commanded one of the best companies in the 90th Light Infantry and was in the forefront of two notable engagements of the Ciskei campaign. In the first offensive under Thesiger, starting on 18 March, he commanded a force of 100 men in his regiment and two 7-pounder guns, which resulted in the destruction of Tini Maqoma’s kraal, and then stormed the latter’s retreats of Schelmkloof and Waterkloof, though Maqoma himself gave his adversaries the slip.

Of the attack on Tini Maqoma’s forces on 30 April in the Tutu Bush, Wood records, ‘When I cantered up, after placing the guns, Stevens said, “You promised we should lead, and you have left us behind.” “Yes,” I said, “but now come on.” Riding in front of the company, I led it on the track into the bush. We had scarcely got 100 yards when a fine stalwart Kafir advanced as if to shake hands; he had apparently heard the guns moving on the flank, and did not see us until I told one of the men to shoot him. Fire was now opened on either side of the path, on which the company was advancing in file, and I told Stevens, who was in front, to press on. As he did so, Mr Saltmarshe ran after him, but catching him by the collar as he passed, for I was still mounted, I said, “Go back to the rear.” “Why?” he asked, somewhat impatiently. “Because I order you;” then seeing from the lad’s face he felt the rebuke, I added, “I do not want, my boy, all my eggs in one basket.” Ten minutes later, when he had advanced 400 or 500 yards, or one third of the distance to the plateau, the firing increased in intensity, especially on the northern side, although nearly all the bullets cut the trees, and at one time my pony’s back was covered with leaves, which fell like snow in a winter scene at a theatre. The Gaikas approached closer and closer, till a Kafir, almost touching Stevens, fired, and knocked a big hole in his face. I was sitting in the centre of the company, and beckoning to Saltmarshe, as his Captain was carried away, said, “Now it is your turn.” I noticed that, although his face was set, and he was still eager to fight, yet the fall of his friend had sobered him, for he asked in a quiet voice, “What am I to do, sir?” “Go to the head of the company, fire two or three rounds, then advance 50 yards and drop again.” He had made one advance only, when a Gaika fired so close to him that his chest was knocked away by the charge.’

Stevens, with his upper left jaw shattered by the bullet fired at point blank range, was not expected to live but he made a full recovery despite a piece of shrapnel which remained lodged in his neck. Invalided home to England, he transferred to the 16th Lancers in November 1879, and was appointed Adjutant of the 1st Fifeshire Light Horse Volunteers in December 1880. He retired from the 16th Lancers in December 1887, and was appointed Lieutenant-Colonel Retired on 17 August 1889. Lieutenant-Colonel Stevens died at Richmond, Surrey, on 20 March 1895.