H.M.S. Hawke; lost when that ship was torpedoed in the North Sea, 15
Oct. 1914; _m._
=STEVENS, FREDERICK AUGUSTUS=, Ch. E.R.A., 1st Class (Pensioner),
148212, H.M.S. Cressy; lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.
=STEVENS, JOHN=, Stoker, 1st Class (R.F.R., B. 7057), S.S. 101670,
H.M.S. Hawke; lost when that ship was torpedoed in the North Sea, 15
Oct. 1914; _m._
=STEVENS, LOTHIAN BASIL=, 2nd Lieut., 3rd Battn. South
Staffordshire Regt., attd. 2nd Battn. Scottish Rifles, yst. _s._
of Col. George Morton Stevens, late R.A., by his wife, Mary, dau. of
Surg.-Gen. William Campbell Maclean, C.B., M.D., LL.D.; _b._
Southampton, 13 March, 1894; educ. Blundells School, Tiverton, and
Balliol College, Oxford (Mathematical Scholar); where he took a
first-class in moderations in mathematics, July, 1914; joined the
Public Schools Battn. of the Middlesex Regt. in Sept. 1914, and
obtained a commission in the 3rd South Staffordshires, 3 Oct. 1914;
went to France in March, 1915; was attd. to the 2nd Scottish Rifles;
was reported wounded and missing after the fighting at Fromelles, 9 May
following, and is now assumed to have been killed in action that day;
_unm._ The officer commanding the 2nd Scottish Rifles wrote: “I am
afraid your son must have died from his wound. It is a great distress
to us all, as he was so keen and interested in his work, and such a
bold and reliable leader.” His brother, Capt. R. W. M. Stevens, died of
wounds, 27 Aug. 1914.
[Illustration: =Lothian Basil Stevens.=]
=STEVENS, REGINALD WALTER MORTON=, Capt., Royal Irish Rifles,
and Brigade Major, 9th Infantry Brigade, 2nd _s._ of Col. George
Morton Stevens, late R.A., by his wife, Mary, dau. of Surg.-Gen.
William Campbell Maclean, C.B., M.D., LL.D.; _b._ Dover. 18 Dec.
1876; educ. Mr. T. Eastman’s, Stubbington; Appuldurcombe, I.W., and
the Royal Military College, Sandhurst; gazetted 2nd Lieut., Royal
Irish Rifles, 5 Sept. 1896, and promoted Lieut. Aug. 1898; and Capt.
2 Jan. 1904; joined the 2nd Battn. at Poona in Oct. 1896; served in
the South African War, Oct. 1890–1902; took part in operations in Cape
Colony, 1899 to 1900 (was severely wounded at Stormberg, 10 Dec. 1899)
and Nov 1900, to April, 1901 (Assistant Staff Officer to Assistant
Inspector-Gen., Western Section, Lines of Communication), and in Orange
River Colony, April, 1901, to 21 May, 1902 (Queen’s medal with two
clasps, King’s medal with two clasps); and (2) in East Africa; was
Special Service Officer on Staff during operations in Somaliland, 7
May, 1903, to 12 June, 1904; present at action at Jedballi (medal with
two clasps); was Adjutant 25 Jan. 1905 to 25 Jan. 1908, and Officer
of a company of Gentlemen Cadets at the R.M.C., Sandhurst, 25 Jan.
1908 to 21 Jan. 1910; joined the Staff College in 1910; was attd. to
the Naval War College, Portsmouth, 1912, and 1 Nov. of that year was
appointed Brigade Major, 9th Infantry Brigade, Southern Command, an
appointment he continued to hold until his death. He went to the front
13 Aug. 1914; was in action at Le Cateau on the 26th, and an urgent
order to retire instantly having been received, to ensure its reaching
the front line and being acted on without delay, Capt. Stevens rode
himself to deliver it and was mortally wounded in doing so, and died
in a farmhouse the following day, 27 Aug. 1914. He was mentioned in
F.M. Sir John (now Lord) French’s Despatch of 8 Oct. [London Gazette,
19 Oct.], 1914, for gallant and distinguished service in the field. He
_m._ at Alverstoke, Hants, 1912, Elisabeth (Cambridge Cottage,
Alverstoke), dau. of the late Rev. J. C. Mace, of Hawley, Blackwater,
and had a dau., Agnes Desirée, _b._ 11 Sept. 1914--two weeks after
her father’s death.
[Illustration: =Reginald W. M. Stevens.=]
=STEVENS, WILLIAM FREDERICK=, Petty Officer (N.S.), 23397, H.M.S.
Aboukir; lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.
=STEVENS, WILLIAM HENRY=, Petty Officer, 226024, H.M.S. Hogue;
lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.
=STEVENSON, CHARLES=, Lc.-Corpl., No. 1803, 3/1st Battn.
R.A.M.C. (T.F.), _s._ of Charles Stevenson, Ex-Provost of South
Queensferry, West Lothian, by his wife, Jeanie, dau. of Robert Gibb,
of Paisley, Scotland and Manitoba, Canada; _b._ Milngavie, 1873;
educ. South Queensferry Public School; was an Organist and Choirmaster
(retired); volunteered after the outbreak of war; left England for the
Dardanelles, 30 July, 1915, and was drowned when H.M. Transport Royal
Edward was sunk in the Ægean Sea, 13 Aug. 1915, by an enemy submarine;
_unm._
[Illustration: =Charles Stevenson.=]
=STEVENSON, GEORGE=, Corpl., No. 9137, B. Coy., 1st Battn.
Cameron Highlanders (Machine Gun Section), 3rd _s._ of the late
John Kay Stevenson, 41, Muirpark, Eskbank, Dalkeith, late Sergt.,
2nd Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders (died 23 Nov. 1915), by his
wife, Jessie, dau. of the late Charles Graham, of Kirkcaldy, Master
Painter; _b._ Eskbank, Dalkeith, co. Midlothian, 31 Aug. 1893;
educ. Dalkeith High School; enlisted 4 Oct. 1911; went to France with
his regt., and was killed in action, 14 Sept. 1914, at the Battle of
the Aisne; _unm._ Mrs. McLachlan, wife of the Col. Commanding 1st
Camerons, wrote: “To-night an officer of the Camerons has just been to
see me, and I asked him about your George. He says that he was killed
and buried on the battlefield during a lull in the fighting. He also
said that George was a very fine soldier, and a great loss to the
Machine-Gun Section.”
=STEWART, CHARLES=, Private, No. 9511, 2nd Battn. Scots Guard;
_b._ Anderston, Glasgow; enlisted 26 Aug. 1914; served with the
Expeditionary Force in France, etc.; killed in action, 16 May, 1915.
=STEWART, DONALD=, Private, No. 4576, 2nd Battn. Scots Guards,
_s._ of P. Stewart, of the Isle of Skye; _b._ Skye; enlisted
21 Aug. 1902; served with the Expeditionary Force in France, etc.;
killed in action, 4 Nov. 1914.
=STEWARD, EDMUND=, A.B. (R.F.R., Ch. B. 9115), 200012, H.M.S.
Cressy; lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.
=STEWART, DOUGLAS EVERARD MACBEAN=, Lieut.-Col. 1st Canterbury
Regt., New Zealand Expeditionary Force, _s._ of Francis Macbean
Stewart, L.R.C.P., L.R.C.S., of Canterbury, New Zealand, formerly
of Inverness, Scotland, by his wife, Annie Stevens (Bealey Avenue,
Christchurch, N.Z.), dau. of S. C. Farr; _b._ Ashburton,
Canterbury, 25 May, 1877; educ. Boys’ High School, Christchurch. On
leaving school was for several years accountant for Messrs. Kempthorne,
Prosser & Co., and later joined in establishing the firm of Stevenson,
Stewart & Co., shipping agents. In 1900 was Lieut. Canterbury Highland
Rifles, 10 months later becoming Capt. Commanding. When the Territorial
scheme came into operation he was offered and accepted the Captaincy
of the 1st (Canterbury) Infantry Regt., and in May, 1912, was promoted
Major. On the outbreak of war he volunteered for foreign service, was
given the command of his regt. 12 Aug. 1914, and was killed in action
in the landing at the Dardanelles, 25 April, 1915. Col. Stewart held
the medal for 12 years’ service with the New Zealand Volunteer and
Territorial Forces, and was mentioned in Sir Ian Hamilton’s Despatch
of 12 June, 1915. In announcing his death, Major A. E. Loach, who
succeeded to the command, wrote: “From first to last Col. Stewart
evinced an unfailing interest in the efficiency and welfare of his
command, and his loss is most keenly felt by one and all, not only in a
personal sense, but in that the regt. has been deprived, at this early
stage, of that able leadership, confidence in which means so much to
any regt. on active service.... I enclose with this letter reports from
Lieut. Lawry and Corpl. McInnis, who were with the Colonel at the time
of his death. On Sunday last, after a landing had been effected, Col.
Stewart pushed on to the rendezvous with the 1st and 2nd Companies,
leaving me behind to bring on the remainder of the battn. The Colonel
was accompanied by the Adjutant, but on attaining the ridge occupied by
our troops he was separated from the majority of his men, the difficult
nature of the country and the disposition of the troops being such that
it was impossible to maintain touch. From Lieut. Lawry’s account it is
evident that the Colonel, regardless of danger, gallantly pushed right
into the firing line, with the object of steadying and encouraging
the men preparatory to withdrawing them to a more suitable position.
The circumstances under which your husband so bravely met a soldier’s
end make the regt. proud, indeed, to have served under so gallant an
officer, and his example will prove an incalculable stimulus to his
regt. throughout the campaign.” The reports above referred to are as
follows: “Gallipoli, 27 April, 1915.--Sir, On the afternoon of Sunday,
the 25th instant, I found myself left with a mere handful of some six
or eight men on the extreme left of the firing line, about the spot
‘Gallipoli 237-z-6.’ This ridge was so strongly occupied by Turks that
I had to shelter my men down the side of the cliff. On the opposite
bank shrapnel was raining torrents of lead, and we saw Col. Stewart
nearly struck. He called to us, ‘What are you doing?’ and learning
that I had so few men, said, ‘Lie doggo where you are, I am sending
for reinforcements.’ Shortly afterwards he joined us, and about 100
reinforcements--Australians, Aucklanders and Canterbury men--soon
came up. Col. Stewart took charge, and with great coolness led us on
to successive positions till we were within 150 yards of the crest
where he decided to await the enemy. An Australian said to him, ‘Sir,
we took this hill six times to-day, and six times we have been driven
back.’ With characteristic coolness the Colonel replied, ‘Very well,
we will take it a seventh time, and this time with the help of God and
the battery we will hold it. But this is a better position than on the
top, so we will await them here.’ The hillside was covered with scrub,
and as the Turks came on the Colonel moved with great daring from bush
to bush, controlling fire and encouraging the men. At one time an
Australian Capt. urged him to retire, but he replied, ‘No, if we lose
this hill we are done. We must hold on.’ There seemed to be snipers
about picking off the officers. Possibly the Colonel was too unmindful
of his own safety, and about 4 p.m. he was killed instantaneously by a
bullet which passed through both temples. Immediately after the Turks
made a bayonet charge. Finding myself the only officer on the ridge, I
ordered rapid fire, which the men gave heartily, the Turks retiring to
their trench. In a few minutes they charged again, and again rapid fire
held them back, but as they fell back they rushed round our left flank.
We swung our thin line round and a third time drove them back. But by
now--4.45 p.m.--the ranks were sorely depleted. I had only a dozen men
able to fire, and we took the opportunity to get away down into the
valley with the wounded. I am sure that Col. Stewart’s cheery coolness
under so very hot a fire enabled our men to do valuable and desperate
work against vastly superior numbers. (Signed:) R. A. R. Lawry, Lieut.,
Canterbury Infantry Battn.” “Gallipoli, 26 April, 1915.--Sir, I was
with Col. Stewart yesterday afternoon (25 April, 1915) when he was
killed. It was about 4 in the afternoon, and we were very hard pressed
trying to hold the top of ridge 237-z-6. We were on the point of
retiring when Col. Stewart arrived with about 30 men, Australians and
New Zealanders, and said, ‘Hullo, Corporal, how’s things?’ I told him
things were pretty hot and we were thinking of retiring. ‘Well, come
on boys,’ he said, ‘we’ll give them a bit more before we leave,’ and
although I told him it was not safe for him to come on the top as men
were falling all round us, he came and knelt down beside me, and a few
seconds later a bullet struck him in the temple, passing clean through
his head, killing him instantly. I was hit twice myself then, one
grazing my shoulder and another hitting the cartridges in my belt, but
doing no damage. There were only about a dozen of us left then. Col.
Stewart died fighting, Sir, like the brave man he was. (Signed) Corpl.
A. McInnis, 2nd South Canterbury Coy., Canterbury Infantry Battn.”
Col. Stewart _m._ Christchurch, Canterbury, New Zealand, 9 April,
1902, Edith Ilia (Zeitoun, Merivale Lane, Christchurch, New Zealand),
eldest dau. of Richard Hill Fisher, of Canterbury, New Zealand, and had
issue two sons and a dau.: Ian Warren, _b._ 30 March, 1903; Donald
Macbean, _b._ 16 March, 1905; Patricia Joan Hill, _b._ 24
Feb. 1910.
[Illustration: =Douglas E. M. Stewart.=]
=STEWART, GEOFFREY=, Capt., 1st Battn. Coldstream Guards, elder
and only surviving _s._ of the late Major-Gen. Sir Herbert
Stewart, K.C.B., by his wife, Georgina Janet, widow of Major-Gen.
Sir Henry Tombs, K.C.B., and dau. of Admiral Sir James Stirling, and
great grandson of the Hon. Edward Richard Stewart [7th _s._ of
John, 7th Earl of Galloway, K.T.]; _b._ Binfield, co. Berks, 28
Oct. 1878; educ. Eton; gazetted 2nd Lieut. Coldstream Guards, 13 July,
1898, and promoted Lieut. 12 Dec. 1899, and Capt. 3 Feb. 1907; served
in the South African War, 1899–1902; took part in the advance on, and
relief of, Kimberley, including actions at Belmont, Enslin, Modder
River, and Magersfontein; operations in the Orange Free State, Feb. to
May, 1900; including actions at Vet River and Zand River; operations
in the Transvaal in May and June, 1900, including actions near
Johannesburg, Pretoria and Diamond Hill; operations in the Transvaal,
east of Pretoria, July to Oct. 1900, including action at Belfast, and
operations in the Transvaal, west of Pretoria, Nov. 1900; operations in
the Transvaal, 30 Nov. 1900, to Sept. 1901, and those in Cape Colony,
Sept. 1901, to 31 May, 1902, receiving the Queen’s medal with two
clasps. He was employed with the Egyptian Army from 26 Oct. 1905, to 25
Oct. 1907; retired from the Coldstream Guards in 1910, and joined the
Reserve of Officers, 23 July, 1910, joining the Leicestershire Yeomanry
(T.F.) as Capt. in 1911, being promoted Major, 18 Feb. 1914. When war
broke out was on the North Midland Mounted Brigade Staff, but rejoined
the Coldstream Guards in Dec.; went to France at once, and was killed
in action at Givenchy, on the 22nd of that month. He was mentioned in
F.M. Sir John (now Lord) French’s Despatch of 5 April [London Gazette,
22 June], 1915. He was at one time Page of Honour to Queen Victoria.
Capt. Stewart _m._ at the Guards Chapel, Wellington Barracks, 2
June, 1908, Violet (Winwick Manor, Rugby), dau. of William Clarence
Watson, of Colworth, co. Beds., and had two children: Malise Herbert,
_b._ 16 Feb. 1911, and Jean Violet, _b._ 25 March, 1909.
[Illustration: =Geoffrey Stewart.=]
=STEWART, JAMES ALEXANDER LOGAN=, of Alltyrodyn, Lieut., 1st
Battn. The Rifle Brigade, elder _s._ of the late Lieut. James
Logan Stewart, 7th Hussars (died v.p. 29 June, 1898), by his wife,
the Hon. Eveline Mary (Alltyrodyn, Llandyssul, co. Cardigan), sister
of Roland John, 13th Baron Dormer, and dau. of the Hon. Sir James
Charlemagne Dormer, K.C.B., and grandson of the late James Stewart, of
Alltyrodyn, J.P., D.L.; _b._ Bombay, India, 7 March, 1893; educ.
Winchester, and Trinity College, Cambridge; suc. his grandfather, 23
April, 1908; gazetted 2nd Lieut. in the Reserve Battn. of the Rifle
Brigade, 2 Sept. 1913; and promoted Lieut., 1st Battn., 30 Nov. 1914;
went to France and joined his regt. at Ploegsteert Wood in Dec.
following, and was killed in action at Shell Trap Farm, near Ypres,
13 May, 1915. On this occasion the position he was in command of was
heavily shelled and temporarily captured, by the Germans, and on the
Rifle Brigade subsequently, retaking the position, no trace could be
found of his body or of those of his men; _unm._ In 1911, he
played for Winchester against Eton; was a good all-round sportsman,
being a first-rate shot, fisherman and cricketer. His brother, 2nd
Lieut. Douglas Stewart, is now (1916) on active service with the Royal
Hussars.
[Illustration: =James A. L. Stewart.=]
=STEWART, JAMES AUGUSTUS=, Lieut., 2nd Battn. The Royal Munster
Fusiliers, only _s._ of James Augustus Stewart, of Buncrana,
Loch Swilly, co. Donegal, J.P. (who has since died), by his wife,
Ann Wilhelmina Jean, dau. of the late William Wray, of Oakpark, co.
Donegal, and nephew of the late Sir Augustus Abraham James Stewart,
of Fort Stewart, 9th Bart.; _b._ Fort Stewart, Rathmelton, co.
Donegal, 17 Aug. 1894; educ. at Rossall and Royal Military College,
Sandhurst, from which he was gazetted to the 2nd Battn. Royal Munster
Fusiliers, 12 Aug. 1914, being attached to the 3rd Battn. for a short
time, and promoted Lieut. 28 Nov. following. He went to the Front,
4 Jan. 1915, was wounded in action at [place unknown], and had only
rejoined his battn. on recovery a few days, when he was returned as
wounded and missing after the fighting at Neuve Chapelle on 9 May,
1915. His company officer, Capt. T. W. Filgate, wrote: “On Sunday
morning, the 9th, we made an attack on the German trenches just south
of Neuve Chapelle. Your son was seen to fall while very gallantly
leading his platoon to the assault. I very much regret that nothing
further is known of him. His manner, coolness and dash was a splendid
example to all. It may be a little consolation to you to know that we
were the only regt. to reach a part of the German first line, and this
was largely due to the bravery of a few officers and men like your son,
who so gallantly led the assault. His name will never be forgotten in
the regt., and we are all very proud of the many officers and men who
fell.” The following passage is taken from a letter which appeared
in the “Cork Examiner” of 17 Jan. 1915: “Two minutes later I, too,
followed in his wake (_i.e._, over the parapets). I was happy to
follow in the trail of another brave Munster officer. There was no
hesitation about him--no halting--no get here nor there, but simply
‘Follow me, men.’ As to his subsequent fate I know nothing. I have not
seen him since, and I would not commit myself to any statement. He was
Lieut. Stewart, 2nd Battn. Royal Munster Fusiliers.” Lieut. Stewart was
_unm._
[Illustration: =James Augustus Stewart.=]
=STEWART, JOHN STEWART=, 2nd Lieut. and Signalling Officer, 1/5th
Battn. Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders (T.F.), only _s._ of
William Stewart, of Benview, Gourock, M.B., C.M., D.P.H., M.O.H., by
his wife, Margaret, dau. of the late John Kirkland, of Rutherglen;
_b._ Gourock, co. Renfrew, 20 Oct. 1894; educ. Greenock Academy,
and Glasgow University (where he was in the O.T.C.), and was studying
medicine when war broke out in Aug. 1914. He was given a commission in
the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders as a 2nd Lieut., 6 Nov. 1914;
went to the Dardanelles, 1 June, 1915, and died on H.M. Hospital Ship
Rewa, 15 July following, from wounds received in action after the
charge at Achi Baba on the 13th; _unm._ Major Clapperton-Stewart,
1/5th Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, wrote: “We had a very bad time
on 12 July, and all the officers and men did well, but none better
than John. He had a lot of dangerous and important work, getting the
telephones across, and he did it well and fearlessly, coming through
the attack unhurt. He was wounded on the head next morning by a sniper
at 6 a.m. He is a boy with great backbone and lots of character and
I do hope has been spared, but if not, your boy at least played the
man”; and a friend: “You have a great sorrow in losing your son. but
you have a great deal to help you to bear it, for everyone that speaks
of your dear boy has some act of kindness to tell you he had done for
them.” A tribute from the Ashton U.F. Church, Gourock, by the Rev.
George Rae, M.A., states; “Lieut. Stewart, who has given his life in
the service of his country in the cause of Justice and Righteousness,
was known to most of us from his youth up, and by all who knew him
highly esteemed. He was a singularly pure-minded and clean living young
man; one who wore the white flower of a blameless life. He was also
of a singularly lovable nature, a son of whom any parents might be
proud. Having resolved to enter the medical profession he was quietly
pursuing his studies when war broke out, preparing to save men’s lives
and not destroy them, but a sense of duty compelled him to give up
what promised to be a successful medical career to serve his country,
as a soldier in her hour of need. To his military training he gave
himself in the same whole-hearted manner that he had done whatever he
undertook. He had a brief bright life. He died from wounds received in
battle at the Dardanelles. His warfare is accomplished yet over such
a death there rests, with mystic brightness, the graciousness of the
sacrifice.”
[Illustration: =John Stewart Stewart.=]
=STEWART, WILLIAM HENRY=, Stoker, 1st Class, 310491, H.M.S.
Pathfinder; lost when that ship was sunk by a mine, about 20 miles off
the East Coast, 5 Sept. 1914.
=STEWART, WILLIAM VICTOR=, 2nd Lieut. 1st Battn. Monmouthshire
Regt. (T.F.), only _s._ of William Stewart, of Brodawel, Caerleon,
co. Monmouth, Mining Engineer, President of the South Wales Institute
of Engineers, and late Chairman of the South Wales Coal Owners’
Association, by his wife, Margaret, dau. of Hopkin John, of Tonypandy,
Glamorgan; _b._ Abertillery, co. Monmouth, 10 Jan. 1897; educ.
Blundell’s School, Tiverton; enlisted, 28 Aug. 1914, and was killed
in action at Festubert, near Ypres, 8 May, 1915; _unm._ On the
previous evening the 1st Monmouths had been moved up into the trenches,
in which it was found there was little shelter. The battn. was
thereupon engaged throughout the whole of the night in improving the
trenches. At daybreak the enemy commenced fiercely bombarding the 1st
Monmouths, and continued doing so all the morning until about mid-day,
when they broke through our lines to the right of Mons, and it was then
that Lieut. Stewart was killed by a bullet wound in the forehead. An
incident which occurred on the day of the charge at Neuve Chapelle (12
March, 1915) is thus related in a letter which appeared in the “South
Wales Argus” of 13 April, 1915: “Our time at the redoubt was 24 hours,
and our next 24 hours was spent at a farm about half a mile from the
line. It was at this point that I essayed my most dangerous exploit.
Our Capt. asked for volunteers to carry ammunition to the trenches
as their stock was getting exhausted. No sooner had the words been
spoken than the volunteers were ready and I am pleased to say I was
one of them. First we had to get back to headquarters to obtain the
ammunition. Well, our party, under the direction of Lieut. Stewart,
safely fulfilled this part of our duty. Then our task began in earnest,
and slowly we approached the danger area along the road. On arriving
at a certain point our officer, Lieut. Stewart, ordered us to open the
boxes and carry 10 bandoliers each. Truly this was far more favourable
for moving about, and at this juncture we crept on to the side of the
road and then right into the ditch. What with the heavy going, the
excitement of being spotted, I can tell you it was far from pleasant.
Step by step we advanced until we got to the communication trench,
which was also knee deep in water. Still keeping up heart and receiving
encouragement from our officer, we plodded on. With our goal in sight
we were spotted, and didn’t the lead fly! Still, there were no hits and
we arrived safely, every man completely exhausted. After a brief spell
we soon revived, only to stop with damp pants for some eight or nine
hours, until darkness set in, when we marched back to our billets.”
[Illustration: =William Victor Stewart.=]