Private George Stevenson was born at Hessle, near Hull in 1847 and enlisted in the Woolwich Division of the Royal Marine Light Infantry in 1867, prior to which he had served in the East Yorkshire Regiment of Militia. Joining the Ship Company of H.M.S. Shah in 1876, he was subsequently present at her famous encounter with the Peruvian Turret Ship Huascar, when she made history by launching the first ever torpedo strike; the Huascar, however, easily outpaced the torpedo. Employed in the Naval Brigade during the Zulu War of 1879, Stevenson was present at the action at Gingindhlovo on 2.4.1879 and was awarded the L.S. and G.C. Medal prior to his eventual discharge in 1880.