ARGENT, Stephen Henry



No.805207, Private, Stephen Henry ARGENT
Aged 24


75th Battalion, Canadian Infantry
Killed in Action on Thursday, 1st March 1917


Stephen Henry Argent was born in Cavendish on 11th December 1892(Sudbury Q1-1893 4A:755), son of John and Eliza ARGENT (née SMITH)

1901 census...Aged 8, he was at Poole Street, Cavendish with his father John ARGENT [42] horseman; his mother Eliza [43]; brothers James [18] labourer in malthouse; Alfred [15] farm yardman and Engelbert [13];sisters Edith [10], Ellen [4] and Bessie [1]. All were born in Cavendish.

1911 census...Aged 18, unemployed, (lately butcher) he was at Poole Street with his parents (father now smallholder); brother Engelbert [farm labourer]; sisters Edith and Bessie. His mother had borne 10 children but 2 had died. He married Nellie PLUMB on March 16th 1915, later of Rumburgh Lane, Spexhall, Halesworth, Suffolk. In 1920 she was at Scarborough Avenue, Skegness. His wife's movements are not easily put in chronological order from his Army documents.


Canadian Archives-RG 150, Accession 1992-93/166, Box 216 - 9
He enlisted in Bowmanville, Ontario on 6th January 1916. A labourer (rubber worker), born Cavendish, England, he was married to Nellie and they lived in Bowmanville, Ontario. He was 5 feet 6.5 inches (168.9 cm) tall, weighed 180 lbs (81.9 kg), chest 34.25" to 37.5" (87 to 95.3 cm), grey eyes, dark hair, Church of England. His widow returned to England and moved first to Hunstsman Road,Foxearth, Long Melford (from 9th November 1916)and then to Rumburgh Lane, Spexhall, Halesworth, Suffolk
To 136th Overseas Battalion initially. He was in hospital at Valcartier from 19th July to 1st August 1916 with German Measles
He left Halifax on SS Corsican on 25th September, arriving Liverpool 6th October and was transferred to 39th Battalion at West Sandling and drafted to France to 75th Battalion on 14th November 1916. One of his Army forms dated 11th August 1916 his wif'e address was changed to Cavendish, Suffolk. His mother's address was High Street, Cavendish.
His "circumstances of death" card simply says "killed in action" in Carency sector (which is between Villers-au-Bopis and Souchez)


photo: Commonwealth War Graves Commission



Stephen Argent is buried in Villers Station Cemetery, Villers-au-Bois, grave 7:D:7

click here to go to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website for full cemetery/memorial details


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