Updates — Archium

Research Log

This page records new discoveries, corrections, and additions to the archive as research continues. Most recent entries appear first.

April 2026 — Archium Launch

Website v1.0

The Stevens Archive launched at stevens.archium.uk — moving from a static Word document to a living, continuously updated website. All research compiled to date has been transferred and structured across six sections.

Current state of research:

Birth certificate confirmed and transcribed
Flying log book fully documented
F Squadron war diary entries recorded
Operation VARSITY narrative complete
Medals analysis complete — France and Germany Star confirmed as missed entitlement
Three open questions identified and documented
Fourteen further research leads identified

February–April 2026 — The Research Sprint

In February 2026, the Facebook post by Rob Ponsford — originally published in April 2023 — was finally seen by this branch of the family. What followed was an intensive research exercise drawing on all available online, family, and published sources.

Key findings established during this period:

Full flying training narrative reconstructed from the log book
F Squadron war diary entries located and transcribed
The McMillen question formally identified and documented with both interpretations
The date of death discrepancy identified — headstone reads 26 March, correct date is 24 March
France and Germany Star confirmed as a missed entitlement in the 2017 research
Battlefield cross photograph analysed as primary evidence
Full medals analysis completed
Fourteen offline research leads identified and prioritised

This research built directly on the log book reunion of 2023 and the medal research of 2017.

April 2023 — The Facebook Post

Rob Ponsford posted on the Glider Pilot Regiment Public Group on Facebook that personal artefacts belonging to a Sgt John Henry Stevens had come to light, and that the custodian was keen to reunite them with a relative. This post led directly to John’s flying log book — lost to the family for decades — being reunited with the Stevens family. Archival assistance was provided by Mark Meaton, Archivist.

The log book (RAF Form 414, service number 2665293) covers 26 May 1944 to 17 March 1945. Every entry is in John’s own hand.

This post was not seen by this branch of the family until February 2026.

February 2017 — John Arthur Stevens’s Research

On 13 February 2017 — just months before his death — John Arthur Stevens printed a record from forces-war-records.co.uk identifying his uncle’s service details. This was the last major piece of research he conducted. It identified two campaign medals — the France and Germany Star entitlement was missed.

John Arthur Stevens passed away later in 2017. He never saw this research completed.

What To Look For Next

If you are a family member reading this and have any of the following, please make contact:

The CO’s letter — John’s Commanding Officer wrote to his mother after his death. This letter may survive in family papers across any of the three branches
Additional photographs — any photographs of John not already in the archive
Family documents — anything relating to Arthur Stevens (father), Minnie Stevens (mother), or Walter Stevens (brother)
Walter Stevens’s RAF service — details of Walter’s wartime service are relevant to the McMillen question

Version History

Version	Date	Notes
Website v1.0	April 2026	Launch of stevens.archium.uk
Document v6	March 2026	Full research report — culmination of 2026 research sprint
Document v5	Early 2026	Medals analysis added
Document v4	Early 2026	McMillen question added
Document v3	Early 2026	Log book documented
Document v1	April 2023	Initial research following log book reunion

To contribute information or make contact: use the contact link at archium.uk