- ppcli
- Persoon
- 1916-
P 22191 William Raymond Stephens, 1916- , was born in Caerphilly, Wales. He came from a musical family and undertook studies in several instruments and in voice. He developed particular interest in the tuba. He joined Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry in 1936 as a bandsman and became a drummer for the Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry Dance Band formed ca.1937. When war broke out he was stationed with the Regiment in England was later promoted to Sergeant. He transferred to the 1st Canadian Division Band in March 1941, then to the Royal Canadian Artillery Band, then Allied Broadcast Network in London. During the final year of the war he served in Italy and Northwestern Europe. Following the war he worked for the music retailers Boosey and Hawkes (Canada) and Frederick Harris Music Company. He is the author of The Harps of War (1986), Memories and Melodies of World War II (1987), and The Canadian Entertainers of World War II (1991). He married Eunice Davies, and they had two sons, David and Glyn. In 1991 he was living at Oakville, Ontario.