Volunteers of Essendon and Flemington, 1914-1918

From the Scotch College commemorative website

Stewart J McA      Pte    5210    James McArthur                5 Inf Bn    25    Clerk    Single    C of E       

Address:    Ascot Vale, Walter St, 100   

Next of Kin:    Stewart, E, Mr, father, 100 Walter St, Ascot Vale   

Enlisted:    27 Jan 1916       

Embarked:     A23 Suffolk 1 Apr 1916   

Relatives on Active Service:

Stewart-S-J-Pte-5210  brother

Date of death:  03/04/1917  57 Inf Bn

CWGC: "Son of Evan and Isabella Stewart. Born at Ascot Vale Victoria".

VILLERS-BRETONNEUX MEMORIAL

Red Cross Wounded and Missing Enquiries Bureau Correspondence

Stewart J McA Pte 5210  57th Btn
Killed in action 3/4/17

I knew casualty.  He was a man about 5 ft 6 inc, well built, medium complexion, about 25 years of age.  He had already been discharged and had re-enlisted.  Casualty was sitting in a German dug-out Morchies, on the sunken road between Lagnicourt and Beaumetz.  An H E shell exploded on the top of the dugout, killing casualty instantly.  I had just left the dug-out and was about 15 yds away when the explosion took place.  His chief wounds were about the legs and body.  He was buired about 10 yds from where he fell on the Sunken Road near Morchies and a cross was erected with his name and number on it.  I was an eye-witness".

Informant:  Lieut R Langley
Private address;- 11 Richardson St, Essendon.

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I knew casualty well.  I saw this man, whose uncle was the OC of the 57th Btn, at the time I was wounded.  Casualty was to go away the next day to the Officer's school in England.  We were in the front line at Bullecourt, just before the big battle on the 3rd April, 1917, when he was killed by H E shell in his dugout.  He was killed under my eyes, and was buried on the spot. The grave was marked with a cross.  I remember the circumstances well, because he was very excited about leaving the next day".

Informant: KLG Wylie, No 2515 57th Btn.

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Pte Stewart was killed in a dug-out on April 3/17 in the open country on a road in front of Morchies.  He was killed instantaniously and was buried alongside where he fell.  I went down and saw his body but did not actually see him buried. He was an old school friend of mine.

Eye-witness:  No, told by Lt Staley
Description: Medium height, fair
Informant Lt W Kennedy-Smith
57th AIF
Home address: co/ Agent General Victoria, Melbourne Place, Strand.

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We received the following note from Sgt O W Keddie 4834

32nd Stationary Hospital, Boulogne
"Stewart was killed in the Sunken Road between Morchies and Lagnicourt about 2 or 3 pm in April about a week or 10 days after the fight at Beaumetz on the 24th March.  He was in an old German dugout by the side of the road.  Two shells came over and Stewart was instantly killed.  L/Cpl W G Venville, of 16th Platton buried him in the Sunken Road and have seen his grave.

War Service Commemorated

Essendon Town Hall R-Y

Scotch College

The School at War.  Scotch College.

Essendon Gazette Roll of Honour killed  

In Memoriam

STEWART - A tribute of love to the memory of

our dearly loved son and brother, James

McArthur Stewart, 57th Battalion, officially re

ported killed in action near Beaumetz, April 3,

1917.

Just when his life was brightest,

Just when his hopes were best  

His country called, he answered,

Now in God's home he rests.  

(Inserted by his loving father, mother, sisters

and brothers, 100 Walter street, Ascotvale.)

STEWART A tribute of love to the memory of

our dearly loved brother, James McArthur

Stewart of D Company, 57th Battalion, who

made the supreme sacrifice near Beaumetz,

France, April 3 1917.

Not for love of battle

Left he his native land,

But duty called

He answered,

So dearly loved, so deeply mourned,

(Inserted by Mr and Mrs H V Jeffery.)

Family Notices. (1918, April 3). The Argus

(Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1956), p. 1.

http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article1650148

Nothing further in 1919, not other years checked.