Stephen Mewburn Orford was killed in action on this day in 1916
Stephen Mewburn Orford was born on 5 December 1888 in Bradden, Northamptonshire. He was the son of Horace William Orford, the Rector of Bradden, and his wife, Annie Elizabeth née Armistead.
Stephen had 6 older siblings (2 boys and 4 girls) and the family had 3 domestic servants, including a governess and a nurse.
The family emigrated to South Africa where his father was appointed Rector of Ficksburg, Orange Free State and Canon of Bloemfontein. In 1897, his mother died in Bloemfontein..
Stephen was educated at St. Andrews College, Bloemfontein and, later, at Cape University.
He became a Clerk in the Department of Finance of the Union Government of South Africa in Pretoria.
On 30 April 1910, he returned alone to the UK, travelling on RMS Saxon from Natal to Southampton. But he returned to South Africa and, in 1914, served as a private in 'Enslin's Horse' in the German South African Campaign and in the Rebellion in the Orange Free State.
Returning to Britain, Stephen volunteered for foreign service and, on 21 October 1915, he was gazetted 2nd Lieutenant, The King's Royal Rifle Corps.
He joined the Battalion on 15 May 1916 when they were in Briel in Flanders. They arrived in Ypres on the 20th when they relieved the 7th Duke of Conrwall's Light Infantry in the front-line trenches. For the next 4 weeks, they occupied different trenches in the Ypres area, taking casualties. On 23 June, they were relieved and retired into Ypres itself.
The Battalion War Diary records that, at 10.00pm on the 25th:
"An intensive bombardment followed the intermittent bombardment of the German Salient which had been going on all day. 2nd Lieutenant Stephen Mewburn Orford was killed by a shell outside the 'Magazine'. Lt. Col. J.F.R. Hope, who was talking to him at the time, was wounded (shell-shock) by the same shell".
2nd Lieutenant Stephen Mewburn Orford was killed in action on 25 June 1916 at Ypres, aged 27. He was buried in Vlamertinghe Military Cemetery.
His Commanding Officer wrote:
"I had absolute confidence in him; he was a most brave and conscientious soldier, a charming personality, full of energy and a fine example to his men. I cannot speak too highly of him".
His South African Death Notice shows that all his siblings were still living in South Africa or West Rhodesia, with older brother, John, "on active service with South Africa M.C." It also shows that Stephen left more than £300 (the equivalent of more than £30,000 in 2026).
2nd Lieutenant Stephen Mewburn Orford 11th King's Royal Rifle Corps