Robert Brewis Stephenson, was on born November 8th 1896, the second son of Christopher Stephenson and his wife Margaret (née Brewis). The family lived at The Green, Wallsend. Father Christopher Stephenson was a Shipyard Manager; amongst other things he oversaw the building of the Mauretania and was the Mayor of Wallsend (1907 – 1908). He died in 1912.

When war broke out Robert Brewis Stephenson joined the Northumberland Hussars.

20 October 1917 Shields Daily News

"Second Lieut. R.B. Stephenson Northumberland Fusiliers, who has been awarded the Military Cross, is a son of Mrs Stephenson, The Green Wallsend. He went out with the Yeomanry towards the end of 1914, and returned home in February last, to take up a commission, being gazetted to the Northumberland Fusiliers on March 1st this year. He is the younger brother of Captain Christopher Stephenson N.F., who has also been awarded the Military Cross, and it is somewhat unusual to find two brothers belonging to the same regiment gaining this distinguished honour."

The award was announced in the London Gazette dated 18th October, 1917, the following is a statement of service for which the Military Cross was conferred:

"For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty in leading his men to the attack. As soon as the objective was reached he pushed forward with his platoon, harassing the enemy as they retired, and inflicting heavy casualties. He afterwards, on his own initiative, organised two bombing posts and beat off a counter attack." 

St George's Gazette, dated 30 November 1917

'2ND LIEUT. ROBERT BREWIS STEPHENSON'

'2nd Lieut. Robert Brewis Stephenson was the second son of the late Alderman Christopher Stephenson, of Wallsend, Northumberland. He was educated at the Bailey School, Durham, and the Grammar School, Newcastle-on-Tyne. He served for three years in the Northumberland Hussars and spent twenty months with that Regiment on the Western Front. He was sent home to take a commission and was attached to a Cadet Unit at Newmarket. He was gazetted to the Northumberland Fusiliers (T.F) on the 1st March 1917.

After training with his Reserve Unit for about two months he left for the British Expeditionary Force on St George's Day last and was posted to one of the Service Battalions of the Northumberland Fusiliers. Not long afterwards he showed great gallantry in the field and was awarded the Military Cross on September 15th, 1917. He was slightly wounded on June 8th, 1917, but remained with his Battalion. He was again badly wounded on the 20th October, the fifth anniversary of his father's death, and died from wounds on the 23rd October, 1917, in the 20th year of his age.

His C.O. writing from the front says, "I may safely say that your son was the most popular officer here, and I have never met a more gallant and manly boy." This is the second member of the family to die on active service, for his sister, Nurse Sylvia Stephenson, died in Cairo on November 9th, 1915.

The sympathy of his brother Officers, N.C.O.'s and Men goes out to his mother in her heavy bereavement.'

Newcastle Daily Journal 27 October 1917:

'Much sympathy is felt with Mrs Stephenson of The Green, Wallsend, and the members of her family in the loss of her youngest son, Second-Lieut. Robert Brewis Stephenson, Northumberland Fusiliers, who it was announced only a fortnight ago had been awarded the Military Cross.

The deceased officer, who was a draughtsman at Messrs Swan, Hunter, and Wigham Richardson’s shipyard, at which his father, the late Aldmn Christopher Stephenson, who had been Mayor of Wallsend, was manager, went to France with the Northumberland Yeomanry and son time ago received his commission.

He was only 20 years of age but, like the other members of the family, very popular in the town. Another brother is an officer in the Army, while a sister Nurse Sylvia Stephenson died at Cairo at an earlier period of the war.'

After the war was over, a memorial window in St. Peter’s Church, Wallsend was dedicated to two members of the Stephenson family as described in the Yorkshire Post and Leeds Intelligencer for 20th March 1922 and in other newspapers.

'WALLSEND CHURCH MEMORIAL'

'A third window has been provided by Mrs Stephenson Wallsend, in memory of her son Second Lieut. R.B. Stephenson MC, N.F., and her daughter, Miss Mary Sylvia Stephenson who died while on nursing service at Cairo. "To the Glory of God and in loving memory of 2nd Lieut. Robert Brewis Stephenson MC, N.F., died of wounds in France, October 23rd 1917, aged 20 years'