John Stewart

Corporal John Stewart. Authors image

7956 Corporal

2nd Battalion (Transferred to the 11th) Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders, 45th Infantry Brigade, 15th (Scottish) Division

Age: 35

Date of Death: 15.7.17

Buried: Mendinghem Military Cemetery I.F.44

Family history: Husband of Elizabeth Lonie Stewart, Balloch Cottage, Sunnyside, Camelon. They had five children. Son of the late Peter Stewart and Euphemia of Camelon. He was a regular soldier who enlisted in 1901 aged 19 and prior to enlisting was employed as a moulder. He saw service in the Boer War in 1902 and in India and had completed his seven years service and was on the army reserve for five years when he was called up in August 1914.

The action that lead to his death

On the 9 July the Battalion was moving up to relieve the right Battalion front of the 45th Brigade with the Ypres-Roulers Railway to their right. They were moving along a corduroy track, made of cut trees, the War Diary reports that one company was caught in an enemy barrage with disastrous results. Two officers killed, one wounded. Other ranks, 19 killed and 54 wounded. John was one of the wounded and evacuated down the line to the Casualty Clearing Station at Mendinghem were he died of shell wounds received to the abdomen, right arm, left hand and head. Epitaph: REST WELL BRAVE HEART SWEET REST TO THE BEST OF SONS SADLY MISSED. He is in a shared grave.

Trench map showing the location of the action

Medals Awarded:

1914 Star & Clasp, The British War Medal, Victory Medal

Corporal John Stewart, Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders, Medal Index Card