Robert Stephenson (cricketer)

Robert Hearfield Stephenson DSO (3 June 1906 – 9 November 1942) was an English first-class cricketer and Royal Navy officer.

Robert Stephenson
Personal information
Full name
Robert Hearfield Stephenson
Born3 June 1906
Brough, Yorkshire, England
Died9 November 1942(1942-11-09) (aged 36)
HMS Cromer, Mediterranean Sea, off Mersa Matruh, British-occupied Egypt
BattingRight-handed
RelationsJohn Stephenson (brother)
Career statistics
Competition First-class
Matches 3
Runs scored 122
Batting average 20.33
100s/50s –/1
Top score 75
Catches/stumpings 3/–
Source: Cricinfo, 12 December 2019

The son of William Hugh Stephenson and his wife, Ethel, he was born in June 1906 at Brough, Yorkshire.[1] After leaving school, Stephenson opted to join the Royal Navy, being commissioned as an acting sub-lieutenant in September 1926, with promotion to sub-lieutenant following in May 1927.[2] He made his debut in first-class cricket for the Royal Navy against the Royal Air Force at The Oval in 1927. He made two further first-class appearances for the navy in 1928, playing against the British Army cricket team and the Royal Air Force.[3] He scored 122 runs in his three matches,[4] including making 75 on debut.[5]

Stephenson was promoted to the rank of lieutenant commander in May 1937,[6] before later serving in the Second World War. During the war he was promoted to the rank of commander in June 1941,[7] in addition to receiving the Distinguished Service Order in August 1942 for his actions while commanding HMS Cromer during the Battle of Madagascar.[1][8] Stephenson was killed aboard HMS Cromer when the ship hit a mine off the coast of the Egyptian port of Mersa Matruh on 9 November 1942. His body was never recovered.[1] His brother, John, also played first-class cricket.

References
  1. McCrery, Nigel (2011). The Coming Storm: Test and First-Class Cricketers Killed in World War Two. Vol. 2nd volume. Pen and Sword. p. 253-55. ISBN 978-1526706980.
  2. "No. 33362". The London Gazette. 2 March 1928. p. 1493.
  3. "First-Class Matches played by Robert Stephenson". CricketArchive. Retrieved 12 December 2019.
  4. "First-class Batting and Fielding For Each Team by Robert Stephenson". CricketArchive. Retrieved 13 December 2019.
  5. "Royal Navy v Royal Air Force, 1927". CricketArchive. Retrieved 13 December 2019.
  6. "No. 34400". The London Gazette. 21 May 1937. p. 3298.
  7. "No. 35213". The London Gazette. 8 July 1941. p. 3923.
  8. "No. 35679". The London Gazette. 21 August 1942. p. 3715.
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