Captain G C Stewart

Gerald Charles Stewart, descended form the Londonderry Stewarts, was born on 29 Mar 1888 at Addlestone, Surrey, elder son of Charles John Stewart, Public Trustee, and of Lady Mary Graham-Toler, eldest daughter of Hector, 3rd Earl of Norbury. His parents lived at 24 Eccleston Square, London and Rockhill, Letterkenny, Co. Donegal. He was educated at St David’s, Reigate; Harrow and the Royal Military College, Sandhurst. The following is taken from Harrow Memorials of the Great War:
"Captain Stewart was gazetted to the 10th Royal Hussars on 2 Feb 1907 and attached to the 18th Hussars at York for the summer. He joined the 10th Hussars at Rawalpindi in the autumn of 1907, and was promoted to lieutenant on 4 Nov 1908. He was appointed Adjutant on 10 June 1912. He took part with his regiment in quelling riots at Johannesburg in 1913. In that year he was promoted to captain, on 7 April. On the outbreak of the War he went to the Front with the 7th Division in October, 1914, and was twice wounded at the first battle of Ypres [at Zandvoorde on 22 October, and at Klein Zillebeke on 30 October]. He was killed on May 13th, 1915, at the second Battle of Ypres. Also killed on 13 May 1915, Lt-Col Shearman and Major Mitford.
A brother officer wrote:- “He died a very splendid soldier’s death, leading his men in one of the most glorious counter-attacks ever made in the history of the British Army. It was such a fine performance that all the English troops who saw it cheered the survivors to the echo. He was a magnificent soldier and universally beloved by everyone in the Regiment. The recovery of his body is largely due to a piece of fine gallantry in going out for it on the part of Lieutenant R G Borthwick. The Regiment are in a magnificent state at the present moment, owing to Gerald’s hard work in the past.”
Another officer wrote:- “Just a line to tell you we buried poor old Jorrocks with his Colonel last night in two graves side by side. Clem Mitford’s grave is just ahead of them, so all those dear good chaps are together. The whole Regiment went to the funeral, and Generals Byng, Kavanagh and Bulkeley Johnston, besides all the old 10th that could go. A bombardment was taking place at the time - it was most impressive and very sad - but it was worthy of the two men, for they were both more than ordinary heroes, and their last performance was magnificent, quite up to Balaklava.” Captain Stewart is buried in Vlamertinghe Military Cemetery. His medals sold by DNW on 7 July 2010, for £1,600. 1914 Star, British War medal and Victory medal.

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