Name
John Holder Stearn (DSO & Croix de Guerre)
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
03/12/1917
23
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Lieutenant
Durham Light Infantry
14th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 /15 Star, British War and Victory medals
Distinguished Service Order, Mentioned in Despatches Croix de Guerre (France)
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
CAMBRAI MEMORIAL, LOUVERVAL
Panel 10
France
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
Hertford Grammar Memorial - now Richard Hale School, Hertford, Buntingford Town Memorial, Christ Church, United Reformed Church, Buntingford, Ind Plaque, Christ Church, United Reformed Church, Buntingford
Pre War
Born on 26 Aug 1894 in Buntingford, Hertfordshire son of Harry George and Elizabeth (Lines) Stearn. Educated at Hertford Grammar School and King’s College, London (BSc 1913). He was unmarried.
John was born in Buntingford in 1895 to Harry and Elizabeth, the family lived in the High Street, Buntingford in 1901. In the 1911 census they were still living in the High Street and at 16 John was still at school. His father was a master tailor and outfitter. He was educated at Hertford Grammar School and then passed his inter BSc in 1913 at Kings College, London.
Wartime Service
He applied for a commission and was gazetted 2nd Lieutenant 14 Dec 1914 and entered France on 11 Sep 1915. He was wounded at the Battle of Loos on 26 Sep 1915 and at Lens on 22 Apr 1917.
He was killed in action near Marcoing by a shell and buried where he fell. He was described by his Colonel as being one of his best officers, popular with both other officers and men. Awarded DSO (London Gazette 18 Jul 1917) for conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. 'He personally put out of action an enemy machine-gun and then continued to command his company for 16 hours in an exposed position despite being wounded'. He was also awarded the Croix de Guerre for disabling an enemy machine-gun and capturing 15 prisoners at Lens on 22 Apr 1917. There was an account in the London Gazette on 18 July 1917. This is what he was awarded the DSO for. A report in DE Ruvignys, Roll of Honour states that he was awarded the Croix de Guerre for putting an enemy machine gun out of action and capturing 15 prisoners.
Acknowledgments
Kate Thompson
Malcolm Lennox, Carol Emery, Jonty Wild
