Born in India, Flying Officer Alexander Arthur Fenwich Towry Steavenson died on 1st September 1941. His name is on the Groomsport War Memorial in Co. Down.
Flying Officer
85756
Flying Officer Alexander Arthur Fenwich Towry Steavenson (85756) served in the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve during the Second World War. Born on 17th September 1885 in Madras, India, he was the only son of the late Joseph Steavenson and the late Jeannie Steavenson (née Weir), and the husband of Violet Carmen Tighe Steavenson (née Rea) of Highgate, Middlesex, England.
In civilian life, Steavenson attended school in Malew, Isel of Man. In 1901, he joine 6th Battalion, Royal Irish Rifles as a Second Lieutenant, receiving promotion to Lieutenant in 1905. He moved on first to 3rd Battalion, Royal Irish Rifles, then to 4th Battalion, Royal Irish Rifles, and then to 1st Battalion, Royal Irish Fusiliers. In Dublin, Ireland, he completed a course in musketry and on 2nd May 1915, entered service in France during The Great War.
By 13th October 1915, Steavenson was promoted to Captain and attached to 1st Battalion, Royal Irish Rifles with whom he served until taken off the battalion strength due to illness on 23rd April 1916. He later served in 3rd Echelon, General Headquarters, Egyptian Expeditionary Force. Following The Great War, Steavenson and his wife moved to India where he worked on a tea plantation. A daughter, Joy E. Steavenson was born there in 1926 and the family went on to split their time between India and the United Kingdom with addresses at 69 Marlborough Park South, Belfast; 76 Clifton Road, Bangor, Co. Down; 128 Seacliff Road, Bangor, Co. Down; and 15 Ballymaconnell Road, Bangor, Co. Down.
In India, Steavenson continued his military career, serving with the Surma Valley Light Horse Auxiliary Force where he received the Volunteer Forces Long Service Medal and the Good Conduct Medal in 1924. With the outbreak of the Second World War, he returned to Northern Ireland and joined the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. Violet and daughter Joy continued to live in Bangor, Co. Down.
Flying Officer Steavenson died on 1st September 1941 aged 55 years old at Noble’s Hospital, Maughold, Isle of Man. His grave is in St. Maughold Churchyard, Kirk Maughold, Isle of Man. His name is on the Groomsport War Memorial and the Groomsport Parish Church War Memorial, Groomsport, Co. Down as A.F.T. Stevenson.
