And…. I’m back! Sorry for the long radio silence on this blog. Life got a bit hectic and writing seems to be the first thing to go. I’ve also been waiting on a few books/documents which seem to be taking forever to arrive. I’ll just blame it on Covid and supply-chain issues!
I’m still chipping away at Stephens and uncovering quite a few little tidbits, particularly around his time in Ethiopia. A few months ago, I transcribed the article that Stephens wrote for St. Bart’s Medical Journal. I thought I’d share one of the gems here and get some feedback…
Italo-Ethiopian War
Stephens’ article was titled “John Melly: Or the British Ambulance Service in Ethiopia”. I’ve written at least one post about the Italo-Ethiopian war and Stephens’ role with the British Ambulance Service in Ethiopia (BASE). A recent post also looked at the mysterious aviatrix who was quite impressed with Stephens when she bumped into him in Addis Ababa in early 1936. Those blog posts, particularly the first one, give a bit of context to Stephens’ time with BASE, but I’ll do a quick recap.
In 1935, Dr. John Melly decided to organize a Red Cross expedition to Ethiopia to care for soldiers and civilians who were suffering due to a lack of medical care in the midst of the Italo-Ethiopian war. Melly secured funding and support and in November 1935, the BASE group left Britain for Africa. Stephens, who went by Captain Robin Townshend-Stephens at that time signed on as Adjutant with the expedition, basically Melly’s right-hand man. In May of 1936, after the BASE team had retreated to Addis Ababa, Melly was shot by a rioter and died a few days later. Stephens had already departed Ethiopia for other reasons, but obviously felt the need to put his memories into writing.
St. Bart’s Medical Journal Article
The St. Bart’s article is pure Stephens, full of his usual cutting wit and dramatic turns of phrase. Several of the physicians on the expedition also wrote memoirs which are quite tamer and not so obviously dripping with personality. But… Stephens is Stephens… a character to be sure! While the group was still in London, they received numerous visitors, some offering assistance, some offering other things.
Then one day Fielding announced a personage— “Lady Georgiana Philadelphia of Number One hundred and forty-four Brook Street”, he hesitated—“Mews, W.I.”.
He gave her ladyship a comfortable chair by the fire, he insinuated near her a small table on which there was pen and ink, also blotting-paper the size of a personal cheque book. There was a wicked gleam in Fielding’s eye; his sense of humour was to see us through many a forlorn movement of the future.
John Melly dealt with the situation: “Our motives are humanitarian…”—it was our stock opening.
“My name is Lady Georgiana Philadelphia; and I wish the Emperor to have this coffee as a personal present from myself. I refuse to pay the postage, as you may well take it yourself.”
Coffee for the King of Harrar—carrying coals to Newcastle. Fielding never lost his head. He bowed, she bowed. Gravely he bowed again, gravely she bowed again. Would they never stop? [Ethiopia was a source of coffee… as Newcastle was a source of coal.]
Cheeky bugger was our man Stephens!
Blessing of the BASE Unit
What is more interesting is this little snippet written by our friend Stephens…
Just before the unit left England the Archbishop of Canterbury expressed a desire to inspect the unit and to bless the flag. John Melly at once consented, for indeed it was a gracious thought, and the parade took place one morning in November in the quadrangle of St. Thomas’s Hospital. A scratch team, this new unit, and there was an element of opéra bouffe [French comic opera], for we were bedecked in strange uniform caps and greatcoats, for kinema [cinema] purposes! [Another memoir notes that they hadn’t received their uniforms yet, hence the need for greatcoats.]
Sir Arthur Stanley, the Chairman of the British Red Cross, opened the proceedings with a speech, and the Archbishop replied. Melly and the Adjutant [i.e. Stephens] were called up for the ceremony of the blessing of the flag, and finally His Grace spoke to each individual member of the unit.
Typical of Stephens, he writes of himself in the third person, whether here or in the Camp 020 history. I must admit to reading this bit in stunned disbelief. Stephens was at the blessing of the unit? He held the flag with Melly?? I had seen pictures of this exact moment in other books and even online… but had never imagined that Stephens was in it. But… another memoir confirmed… the flag was indeed held by Melly and Townshend-Stephens.
(From Nelson & Sullivan book)
I had quite a debate with myself as to which of the two men holding the flag might be Stephens but, after comparing this photograph to several others in which Melly is featured, it is quite clear that Melly is on the left. Melly has a different hair style than Stephens, and perhaps even, a bit more hair.
Which leaves Stephens on the right. He has a rather gaunt look which isn’t quite how I’ve always imagined him. Mind you, I’ve always been working with the well-known photograph of Stephens from the late 1940s/early 1950s. A middle-aged, fleshy Stephens looks quite different from a 35-year-old prime-of-life lean Stephens!
Even more impressive, after much digging, I came across a Pathé film of the blessing of the flag! For a few seconds, we have a view of Stephens although he barely moves and never speaks. Fascinating stuff. Getty Images also has a copy of the flag blessing albeit taken from a slightly different angle.
Conclusion
I’m always a bit amazed at what can be discovered if one just digs a bit… or a lot. I’m still sifting through several other memoirs of the BASE expedition and seizing upon ever mention of Stephens with some glee. Every morsel adds a piece to the puzzle of the man.
I had another Ethiopian memoir arrive via inter-library loan last week and am in the process of reading it. At a glance, there aren’t any photographs that include Stephens, which is disappointing but, perhaps the text will reveal something new.
Hello Giselle
Another super interesting round of sleuthing by you. Thank you so much!
There is so much to conjecture about here, and I hope you might indulge me.
In the photo of the “Blessing of the Banner”, Stephens appears to be wearing a military overcoat but his trousers are certainly from “Civvy street”, being the bags popular at the time. Perhaps I’m wrong and the overcoat is not military. I’d be very interested in your views. In all events, he appears for all intents and purposes to be a civilian.
Also, at the time this film was shot, Stephens was not long a discharged bankrupt and had been involved in a minor scandal of a divorce. Yet, here he is, 2iC of the British Red Cross, in the presence of no less a personage and centre of the establishment than the Archbishop of Canterbury. Quite a rehabilitation in an age where reputation tended to count for something. It would be interesting to know how Townshend-Stephens, as he was presenting himself, inveigled his way into this position. The establishment seems to have forgiven his colourful recent past.
This points to an interesting question: what was Stephens life trajectory after leaving the military (and why did he leave the military)? There seems to be a measure of him being looked after by the “old boys” network. There is little doubt that Stephens was an incredibly talented and highly intelligent person, if somewhat eccentric. It may also be interesting to discover if the surviving families of any of the people who worked with him from the mid 1930s have recollections of him, or even diaries.
After his death, his estate appears to have been dispersed, as that bowl, the subject of an earlier post of yours, indicates. The circumstances surrounding that may shed some light on his latter years.
Thanks again for posting!
And thanks for reading.
Hi Giles!
Sorry for the delay in approving and replying. Stephens noted in the St. Bart article that their uniforms ones hadn’t arrived yet, and so they wore great coats. Other photographs of the expedition do show they all wearing uniforms, presumably of the British Red Cross. I doubt they were military uniforms! I do believe he was a civilian although he did call himself Captain.
Re: his rehabilitation… he was only an adjutant to the Ethiopia expedition, not the second in command of the entire British Red Cross. I’m going to guess that he had some connections somewhere who pulled some strings. Or… perhaps he was already coming on the radar of MI5.
Leaving the Indian Army – that is a bit of a mystery. He did have some health concerns which makes me wonder if that could be part of the issue. He certainly did bump around after returning to England. There was even a bit of a kerfuffle when he was charged with linen theft… Certainly he was a bit of an odd duck – passionate and adventurous. The other members of the BASE, seem to have held him in quite high regard and Melly positively loved him.
I’ve not had any luck tracking down survivors. I think all of the Camp 020 secretaries have passed away… but I do hope that one day, the blogs on Stephens will bring someone out of the woodwork!
Thanks for reading the blog and commenting!
Hello, Giselle, I have enjoyed this blogpost and others on Stephens. I have tried to contact you via email, about some information I have which might be of interest, but the website form does not seem to be working. Perhaps you could email me?
Oh dear, so sorry! Will follow up with an email and check the website form widget!