Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

From Gary Mitchell, Sandgate Cemetery
 
Let us remember a Fallen soldier of The Great War awaiting memorialisation at Sandgate Cemetery.

On the 1st October 1917, Private George Stewart, 46th Battalion (Reg No-2978), labourer (Hamilton Loco Sheds), from 13 Gosford Road, Hamilton West, (Adamstown, Broadmeadow) New South Wales, father of one? (Step-daughter Edith Young, Hamilton West, N.S.W.), was Killed in Action by an enemy artillery shell, Battle of Polygon Wood, Passchendaele Campaign, age 38.

Born at Belfast, Ireland on the 14th May 1879 to George and Martha Stewart; husband of Martha Maria Stewart nee Edgar (married 1911, Hamilton, N.S.W., died 19.10.1939, Hamilton, N.S.W., age 72, 22 years a widow), from 11a Gosford Road, Hamilton West, New South Wales, George enlisted on the 7th September 1915 with the 30th Battalion Depot at Newcastle, N.S.W.

Discharged medically unfit, hernia.

Re-enlisted on the 25th September 1916 with the 36th Training Battalion at Newcastle, N.S.W.
Proceeded to join 46th Battalion 5.10.1916.

Unit embarked from Sydney, New South Wales on board SS Port Napier on the 17th November 1916.

Admitted to hospital 11.8.1917 (scabies).

Proceeded on leave to France from 5.9.1917 to 16.9.1917.

Mr. Stewart’s name has been inscribed on the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial (Panel 27), Belgium.

Place of Association – Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia.

George’s name has also been inscribed on the Hamilton (Gregson Park) War Memorial, Hamilton Loco Employees Roll of Honour as G. STEWARD and the NSW Govt Railways and Tramways Roll of Honour, 1914-1919. Name not inscribed on the Hamilton Municipal District Roll of Honor.

Unfortunately, there is no memorial inscription at the gravesite of Martha Maria Stewart to tell us of the loss of her husband during The Great War, and I am unable to erect a Memorial cross, so I have placed poppies in remembrance of George’s service and supreme sacrifice for God, King & Country. METHODIST 4-10. 37.

Served for 13 years in the British Army, including service in the South African War.

Contact with descendants would be greatly appreciated.

For more detail, see “Forever Remembered“.
http://www.commemoratingwarheroes.com/cemetery-main-search/.

Lest We Forget.

George STEWART (Service Number 2978) was born in Belfast, Ireland, on 14th May 1879.  He served 12 years in the Royal Irish Rifles before coming to Australia after his period of service expired. He worked as a labourer.  In 1911 he married in Newcastle and lived with his wife at ‘Hamilton West’.  He declared himself a bankrupt in 1913, attributing his insolvency to slackness of work. In April that year he joined the NSW Government Railways as a fuelman at the Hamilton locomotive depot.

In September 1915 he enlisted in the AIF at Newcastle and was appointed a Sergeant.  He served 167 days in the 30th Battalion. He was discharged medically unfit after he was found to be suffering from an inguinal hernia which he attributed to a fall a few days before he enlisted. He refused an operation to cure it.  In September 1916 however he enlisted again, at Newcastle. He was found fit for service, the hernia not being mentioned, although he disclosed his prior service and discharge unfit earlier that year.

This time he was allotted to the 7th Reinforcements of the 46th Battalion and was embarked from Sydney in November 1916. He landed in England in January 1917.  He was made Corporal and Acting Sergeant for a time but reverted to the ranks before he was sent to France in September 1917. 

He was ‘taken on strength’ by the 46th Battalion ‘in the field’ on 16th September. He was killed in action on 1st October 1917. 

He has no known grave but is remembered with honour on the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial. 

A war pension was granted to his widow.

- based on the Australian War Memorial Honour Roll and notes for the Great Sydney Central Station Honour Board.