S/11654 Private
1/5th Battalion Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders, 103rd Infantry Brigade, 34th Division
Age: 40
Date of Death: 14.10.18
Buried: Tyne Cot Memorial Panel 141 to 143
Family history: Brother of Peter Stewart, 19 David’s Loan, Bainsford
The action leading to his death
The 103rd Brigade were preparing for the continuation of the advance to victory in Flanders on 14 October. The 5 Battalion Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders were in support of the 5th King’s Own Scottish Borderers and the 8th Scottish Rifles, the two other Battalions in the Brigade. The plan was for the leading battalions to take the village of Gheluwe and for the 5 Argyll’s to pass through them and to consolidate their objective. The attack began at 5.35am with the troops moving off behind a creeping barrage and were instructed to leave any resistance to the troops following up. The morning of the attack was very foggy and this was added to by the smoke barrage and the enemy’s gas shells and the advance went forward in an atmosphere reminiscent of a yellow London fog. This also made maintaining the direction of the attack difficult however, the front posts of the enemy were overwhelmed. At 1.30pm the Argyll’s pushed through toward their objective of the hillock known as Kidney Bean. The enemy put up stiff resistance at Roumanian Farm and it was 6pm before the line was finally consolidated with the Argyll’s holding the line from Snookers to Roumanian Farm. Battalion casualties were 70 of all ranks killed wounded and missing.
(Linesman Map. A modern view of the battlefield however, it has not changed that much in the intervening years.)
Medals Awarded
British Medal, Victory Medal
