Edward John Stephens

Private Edward John Stephens – Welch Regiment, 2/5^th Battalion

Burial register
St. Peters church

Edward John Stephens served with the Welch Regiment, 2/5^th Battalion, and died on 12^th June 1940, aged 21. According to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, this is the only official record of his military service. Edward is buried at St. Peter’s Church, Swansea.

The church burial register records that Edward died at the County Infirmary, Bridgend. A birth record confirms that he was born in 1919, also in Bridgend.

1921 Census

The only census record in which Edward appears is the 1921 Census, when he was 2 years old and living at 39 Seyberfych Street, Swansea, the home of his stepfather, Edward Barry.

Military Service

The 2/5^th Battalion, Welch Regiment, was a Territorial Army (TA) unit formed in South Wales as a duplicate of the 5th Battalion. At the outbreak of the Second World War, the battalion was engaged in home defence duties, primarily within the United Kingdom, as part of the 45^th Division. Throughout early 1940, the battalion trained for the possibility of overseas deployment, undertaking coastal defence, garrison, and anti-invasion tasks across South Wales and the West Country.

Given the date of Edward’s death in June 1940, it is likely that he was serving in Britain during this period of intense home defence activity, possibly stationed in South Wales or southern England. His death at County Infirmary, Bridgend, suggests that he may have suffered illness or injury while on active service.

Legacy

Private Edward John Stephens was just 21 years old when he died. Though little is known about his service, his grave at St. Peter’s Church, Swansea, marks his place among the many young men of the Welch Regiment who served and sacrificed during the early months of the Second World War.