Before the war Stephen worked as a miner at Wallsend Colliery, and lived at 22 Railway Terrace, Hebburn. He arrived in France on 1st June 1915. He was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal "For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. When several attempts had failed to rescue a wounded man from a crater, he succeeded in doing so single-handed. He was heavily bombed in the sap, and for over an hour was unable to move the wounded man. He eventually got him to safety. He returned to the crater and rescued a second wounded man. During the performance of this action he was hit by a bomb. He at once buried it in the mud and it failed to explode. He showed great endurance in carrying these wounded men long distances under most difficult circumstances." The unit war diary records the D.C.M. being awarded on 29th March 1916. He was also awarded a Bar to the D.C.M. "For conspicuous gallantry and devotion in attending to and carrying in under heavy fire large numbers of wounded, who had been lying in the open. He repeatedly led stretcher parties to the front line, and refused rest and food while he knew wounded were lying about.” The unit war diary records his bar being awarded on 8th August 1916. Additionally, although he never received it, on 27th November 1917 the unit war diary records him being recommended by the Officer Commanding Bearers to be awarded a 2nd Bar to the D.C.M. “For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty on the 20th (Nov) and during the night of the 20th - 21st (Nov) near La Vacquerie. When under heavy rifle, machine gun & shell fire, he personally organised stretcher squads and led them to the wounded. Owing to the bearers losing touch in the dark he personally went out & collected sufficient squads to clear the line. The initiative and daring shown by this NCO was chiefly instrumental in the successful clearing of the wounded.” Stephen was killed, along with 2 others, when the advanced dressing station received a direct hit.