Herbert Stevens was born in Thame in spring 1886, the second son of James Stevens and Caroline Louise (née Loosley). James was a butcher living at 23 Upper High Street, Thame and Caroline was a schoolmistress. By 1911 Herbert and his elder brother Fred were still living at home and were both butchers in the family business.

The Thame Gazette reported that Herbert was a member of Thame Fire Brigade and played football for Thame for several seasons. He also played one or two seasons as a goalkeeper for Oxford City and occasionally for Reading.

Herbert had joined the Queen’s Own Oxfordshire Hussars and went to France with them on 20th September 1914. On his return to England he was posted to the 2/1st Yeomanry, a reserve unit, which had moved to King’s Lynn, Norfolk in April 1915.

Herbert died at home of meningitis on 14th June 1915, age 29 years, and was buried in St Mary’s churchyard on 18th June 1915.

1979 Trooper Herbert Stevens, Queen’s Own Oxfordshire Hussars, is remembered in Thame on the War Memorial and on the Memorial Boards of St Mary’s Church and All Saints’ Church.