Henry Stevens

Henry William Stevens GC (24 January 1928 – 17 November 2018) was awarded the George Cross for the gallantry he showed while serving as a constable in the Metropolitan Police on 29 March 1958. Stevens was born in Upton Park, London. Prior to joining the Metropolitan Police Force, he served three years in the Royal Navy. The Bickley burglary At around 8.00 pm, on 29 March 1958, a local criminal named Ronald Easterbrook, who was armed with a gun, was burgling a house in Bickley in the London Borough of Bromley. Police had been alerted to the burglary and dispatched PC Henry Stevens along with two other colleagues to investigate. Stevens went round to the rear of the property and spotted Easterbrook climbing over a wooden fence. Stevens identified himself as a police officer but when Easterbrook ran, Stevens gave chase along St. Georges Road, Bickley. As Stevens was gaining on Easterbrook, Easterbrook turned and pointed the gun at Stevens before saying "Stop, or you'll get this". Ignoring the warning, Stevens continued the chase and Easterbrook opened fire, shooting Stevens in the face.