STEWART, Russell William
| Service Number: | 862 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 31 August 1914, Enlisted at Melbourne |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 7th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Eaglehawk, Bendigo, Victoria, Australia, 1887 |
| Home Town: | Eaglehawk, Greater Bendigo, Victoria |
| Schooling: | Eaglehawk State School, Victoria, Australia |
| Occupation: | Painter |
| Died: | Killed in Action, Gallipoli, Turkey, 25 April 1915 |
| Cemetery: |
No known grave - "Known Unto God" Panel 29, Lone Pine Memorial, Gallipoli Peninsula |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Eaglehawk Mechanics Institute Roll of Honour, Lone Pine Memorial to the Missing |
World War 1 Service
| 31 Aug 1914: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 862, Enlisted at Melbourne | |
|---|---|---|
| 19 Oct 1914: | Involvement Private, 862, 7th Infantry Battalion, ANZAC / Gallipoli, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '9' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Hororata embarkation_ship_number: A20 public_note: '' | |
| 19 Oct 1914: | Embarked Private, 862, 7th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Hororata, Melbourne | |
| 25 Apr 1915: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 862, 7th Infantry Battalion, ANZAC / Gallipoli |
Help us honour Russell William Stewart's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by Carol Foster
Son of John Henry Stewart and Clara Sellick Stewart nee Halbert of Victoria Street, Eaglehawk, Victoria
Medals: 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal
Also served in the Citizen Military Forces and the cadets
Biography contributed by Stephen Brooks
According to the book “Our Dear Old Battalion” written by Ron Austin on page 43 a soldier related that “once ashore the Platoon Sergeant Ted Ault ordered us to split as we neared what was afterwards called the Pimple; Ault, 869 Fred Pearson, 759 Jackie Thompson, 210 Bill Burt, 862 Bill Stewart and 860 Mick O’Dwyer being amongst those that went to the left while others went to the right. None of the left party were ever seen again.”
Biography contributed by Larna Malone
Russell William Stewart, known as ‘Will’ or ‘Bill’, was born in Eaglehawk, the son of John Henry & Clara Selleck Stewart of High St., Eaglehawk. He was a Painter/House Decorator, 27 years old, and living in Victoria-street Eaglehawk. His previous military service included 2 years in 2nd 8th AIR, Bendigo, the Kerang Rifle Club, and he had been Captain of the Cohuna Rifle Club. He had attempted to enlist in Kerang, but was rejected due to having false teeth. His next attempt was successful, enlisting in Broadmeadows on 31/8/14. He was allotted Service no. 862 and appointed to ‘G’ Company, 7th Battalion.
Prior to Embarkation he was Presented with a Gillett safety razor by members of the Presbyterian Church and Sunday School; and was Presented with a memento by the Borough of Eaglehawk (Pocket wallet, wristlet watch, or shaving outfit).
The 7th Battalion left Broadmeadows Camp on 18 October, 1914, and embarked for service overseas on board HMAT ‘Hororata’. Arriving in Egypt the battalion moved into camp at Mena, at the foot of the pyramids. (6/12/14)
In January, 1915, the Australian force was re-organized. In the 7th Battalion ‘G’ and ‘H’ Companies joined to form the new ‘D’ Company. This meant that all the men from Northern Victoria were together in one Company. Russell William Stewart was part of 14th Platoon, ‘D’ Company.
The 7th Battalion was part of the force which landed at Anzac Cove on 25th April, 1915. 14 Platoon ‘D’ Company was one of the groups which went forward from the main body and were out past Lone Pine. The platoon sustained a high number of casualties. The advance line succeeded in keeping the Turks back on Third Ridge until late in the afternoon. Retreating at last, they were overrun by the Turks. Many of these men were later reported ‘Missing’.
Cpl. John Truesdale. Letter: “It concerns Cpl Stan Dunstan and Privates Bill Stewart, Mancel Davies and Harry Stevens. We were all together in the landing. . . . . We then got the order to advance, and we did. Major Blezard and dozens of men went down. Then Lieutenant E. Connelly gave the order to climb down the cliff in sections, and that’s where we all got separated, and got a rough time too. Mancel, Stan and Bill must have swung round to the right. This was about 8 o’clock in the morning of 25/4/15, and I have not seen nor heard of them since. I have made inquiries everywhere, and have asked hundreds of returned wounded men, and nobody can tell me anything.” [Bendigonian January 20, 1916]
Russell William Stewart was reported as “Missing”. A Board of Inquiry was held in France on 5/6/16. This determined: Russell William Stewart “Previously reported Missing now reported Killed in Action”.
KIA 25/4/1915. His body was never found and he has no known grave His name was recorded on the Lone Pine Memorial.
“The First Lot. 7th Battalion. The first men of the Bendigo district to volunteer for service in the First World War.”: Larna Malone
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