Steven Somerville was born in Gateshead, Tyne and Wear on 24 February 1975, the son of Mr Robert Somerville and Mrs Jean Somerville (née Atkinson). He was the twin brother of Andrew Somerville. His birth was recorded in the Northumberland West Registration District.

He joined the Royal Navy in 1997, was trained as an Operator Mechanic (Weapons) and qualified as a submariner. In October 2000 he was serving in HMS VENGEANCE which had been deployed to the US Navy Submarine Base at Kings Bay, Camden, Georgia. On 6 October 2000, the submarine was alongside carrying out maintenance at the submarine base when Steven died when he accidentally fell some forty feet from the after casing of HMS VENGEANCE into an open Trident II Missile Launch tube, being killed instantly. Steven Somerville was recovered from the missile tube and his body was returned home. His funeral took place at the Gateshead Crematorium.

The Captain and crew of HMS VENGEANCE were among 500 people who attended a memorial service in the chapel at King’s Bay. A mixture of British and American servicemen and women attended the service in honour of Steven and to help others get over their grief.

Stephen Somerville is commemorated on the Armed Forces Memorial at the National Memorial Arboretum.