John ‘Jack’ Steven*
Jack Steven was born in Murkle Caithness Scotland. According to his great-nephew, Steven Bridger, Jack Stevens is a misspelling of ‘J Steven’. He was the brother of Alex H. Steven. Apparently Alex Steven has often called Stevens as well and Alex eventually did not correct people. Before moving to Canada Jack was a skilled bag-piper but apparently abandoned this instrument when he arrived in Summerland. The brothers were early Summerland pioneers. Jack was a carpenter and built a number of buildings and houses from Summerland to Kaleden. He worked for the firm A.H. and J. Steven. He helped build the StevenHome at the end of Main Street, which has been traditional decorated with a nativity scene. Jack was active with the Young People’s Guild as well as Summerland’s St Andrews and Caledonian Society. He helped build the Presbyterian church. In 1915 he enlisted first with the Rocky Mountain Rangers, then the 30th Battalion and then transferred to the D Company of the 47th Battalion. On April 3rd he wrote to the Summerland Comfort VClub thanking them for their package. The package contained, “ numerous comforts which reached me an hour previous to my writing.”. He continued, “the vermin proof garments will fill a long felt want, as the British sense of fair play demands that we only fight one scourge at a time. And it is a mattere of consideration with men which of these two is the most repulsive.”Private Jack Stevens was killed in action on May 5th 1916 in France while serving with the Canadian Infantry (British Columbia Regiment) 7th Battalion. A brass plaque in memory of Private Jack Steven can be found at St Stephens Anglican church. In the May 19 1916 edition of the Summerland Review, an article stated that, “ the community laments the loss of a most estimable and useful citizen and the family an unselfish brother. His truly heroic death was the crowning effort of that life.” He left behind his brother Alex and Uncle John Stark, his sister Mrs. H. Taylor of Vancouver and another brother William of New Zealand (who later enlisted with the Canadian Engineers) . He is buried at the ChesterFarmCemetery (Grave 11.D.5) (R#442197)*Last name mis-spelled on Cenotaph as "Stevens"