Philip Pembroke Stephens
Philip Pembroke Stephens | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1903 |
| Died | 1937 |
| Occupation(s) | Journalist, war correspondent |
| Years active | 1925–1937 |
| Known for | Reporting on Nazism, Second Sino-Japanese War; outspoken critique of Nazism; coverage of Guernica bombing |
Philip Pembroke Stephens (1903–1937) was a distinguished journalist and international correspondent for the Daily Express and the Daily Telegraph. Due to his outspoken critiques of Nazism and advocacy for German Jews, he was expelled from Germany in June 1934. Later, while reporting on the Second Sino-Japanese War in Shanghai, he was fatally wounded by a Japanese bullet.
Early life
Stephens was born in 1903 and received his education at Gresham's School followed by the University of Cambridge. He pursued legal studies at Lincoln's Inn, completing his training in 1925 with a second-class degree specializing in Roman-Dutch law. After considering various career options, he ultimately embarked on a path in journalism.
Foreign Correspondent for the Daily Express
Before his Berlin assignment in late 1933, Stephens reported from Vienna and Paris. He succeeded Sefton Delmer as correspondent in Berlin but took a markedly different approach; rather than fostering connections close to Adolf Hitler, Stephens concentrated on documenting the effects of the Nazi government on everyday citizens, particularly focusing on Jewish communities. His forthright articles attracted significant attention in the Daily Express, resulting in two arrests and his eventual expulsion from Germany in mid-1934. From London, he persisted in producing critical coverage of the Nazi regime until the newspaper's enthusiasm diminished.
Death
After joining the Daily Telegraph, Stephens covered several major conflicts such as the Second Italo-Abyssinian War, the Spanish Civil War, and Japan’s incursion into China. In April 1937, he was among the earliest journalists to enter Guernica alongside Nationalist troops, reporting on its devastation caused by aerial bombardments—a fact he discreetly communicated to British authorities despite censorship imposed by Nationalist forces. While documenting Japanese war crimes in China, Stephens was killed during the Battle of Shanghai on either 11 or 18 November 1937. He was shot while observing combat from a water tower; Japanese forces later issued an apology attributing the incident to sniper fire nearby. Present at his death was his driver, Bernhard Arp Sindberg, who subsequently played a significant role in rescuing thousands during the Nanking Massacre. The news of Stephens’ death was conveyed to the Daily Express by O'Dowd Gallagher of the Daily Mail.
Reporting Style
John Simpson, author of Unreliable Sources: How the Twentieth Century was Reported, characterizes Stephens as a 'courageous correspondent' recognized for his vivid and impartial journalism. His dedication to firsthand reporting earned him commendations and a salary increase from Beaverbrook. Stephens’ unwavering commitment to exposing the persecution of Jews under Nazi rule demonstrated both his journalistic integrity and personal conviction—qualities that ultimately led to his demise.