Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Acting Captain

Unit:

4th Canadian Field Regiment, 2nd Canadian Infantry Division, Canadian Army

Awarded on:

December 30th, 1944

Citation
"On the morning of 16 October 1944 the Royal Handlton Light Infantry was consolidating in the town of Woensdrecht north of Antwerp, having seized the town in an attack made during the night. Capt. Stevenson was Artillery Forward Observation Officer in support of this infnatry battalion.

At 0900 hours the area of the leading Company, where Capt. Stevenson had established his observation post, was subjected to very heavy mortar and shell-fire. This officer in spite of the intense enemy fire, immediately went forward on foot to gain better observation, which showed that a counter-attack was developing. In spite of that fact that he was soon surrounded by enemy tanks and infantry Capt. Stevenson brought down artillery fire on his own position inflicting heavy casualties on the enemy who withdrew.

This officer then took up an observation Post in the top of a nearby house and in spite of the heaviest fire continued to direct our artillery on to the enemy, and successfully broke up succeeding counter attacks by infantry and self-propelled guns. After four direct hits by shell-fire the observation Post collapsed but by this time the enemy counter attacks had ceased and the threat to our infantry had been removed.

By his disregard for his own personal safety while under intense fireand by his calm and skillful control and direction of the supporting artillery, Capt. Stevenson broke up a series of counter attacks on the Woensdrecht position, which at the time had not been completely consolidated, by the battalion which had seized it."