The Last Post Ceremony commemorating the service of (3458) Corporal James Stewart, 13th Battalion, AIF, First World War.

The Last Post Ceremony is presented in the Commemorative area of the Australian War Memorial each day. The ceremony commemorates more than 102,000 Australians who have given their lives in war and other operations and whose names are recorded on the Roll of Honour. At each ceremony the story behind one of the names on the Roll of Honour is told. Hosted by Charis May, the story for this day was on (3458) Corporal James Stewart, 13th Battalion, AIF, First World War.

3458 Corporal James Stewart, 13th Battalion, AIF
KIA 9 August 1918
Photograph: P07565.001

Story delivered 2 November 2016

Today we remember and pay tribute to Corporal James Stewart.

Popularly known as “Jimmy”, James Stewart was born in 1894 in Aberdeen, Scotland, to James and Bella Stewart. When he was 13 years old the family immigrated to Australia and settled in Auburn, New South Wales. He attended the Superior Public School in Auburn and later gained an apprenticeship as a cabinetmaker with Buchanan Brothers Forest Lodge. He was working as a cabinetmaker when the First World War began.

On 28 August 1915, shortly after his 21st Birthday, Stewart enlisted service in the AIF with his younger brother George. After his initial training, Stewart was allotted to the 11th reinforcements to the 13th Battalion, while George joined the 2nd Field Artillery Brigade.

James Stewart embarked for Egypt in October with other reinforcements aboard the transport ship Port Lincoln. He spent several months at a training depot and quickly became a popular member of the battalion. Army life and the food seemed to agree with Stewart, and he gained weight. His mates soon gave him the nickname “Poddy”.

The battalion sailed for France in June and had a brief period of acclimatisation near Armentières in what was known as the “nursery sector”. Stewart took part in the battles of Pozières and Mouquet Farm in August, before the heavily depleted battalion was sent to the quieter Ypres sector in Belgium to rest.

The 13th Battalion returned to the Somme in October and spent the terrible winter of 1916–17 rotating in and out of the front line. Stewart was hospitalised on New Year’s Day 1917 with mild case of trench foot, but was soon back with the battalion. In early February he spent five days in hospital with pleurisy and missed the battalion’s successful but costly attack on Stormy Trench.

In April the battalion took part in the disastrous battle of Bullecourt, and afterwards Stewart was again briefly hospitalised with trench fever. The next action was in the battle of Polygon Wood in late September. Though casualties were again heavy, the Australians took and held their objectives. The 13th Battalion returned to France in November and Stewart was promoted to lance corporal.

The German army launched its Spring Offensive in late March 1918 and the 13th Battalion saw heavy fighting around Villers-Bretonneux. A relatively quiet period followed, during which Stewart was promoted to corporal and placed in charge of a Lewis gun team. When the great Allied offensive began on 8 August the 13th Battalion was involved in the advance towards Morcourt. The following day was spent consolidating its positions, and in the evening some elements of D Company, including Stewart and his Lewis gun section, were sent forward to capture a trench and clear out the German machine-gun nests there.

Stewart’s number two on the gun, Corporal Tom Burton, later described what happened:

within a few yards of this trench, an enemy machine-gun opened upon us. Stewart and his gun team succeeded in reaching the trench, but we were immediately detailed to open up on the gun giving us the trouble while a bombing party worked up the trench. To do this it was necessary for us to get out on top, and it was here that Stewart was hit in the head with a bullet from a machine-gun.

Stewart was killed instantly along with two members of his gun team, and another man was wounded.

One week later, George Stewart suffered a gunshot wound to the thigh. His injury prevented him from re-joining his unit, but he eventually returned to Australia in December 1918.

James Stewart was buried near where he fell and a temporary cross was erected. Burton went on to describe him as “one of the gamest little fellows that ever went into action”. He was 24 years old.

The location of his grave was lost and today he is commemorated on the Villers-Bretonneux Memorial. His name is also listed on the Roll of Honour on my right, among more than 60,000 Australians who died while serving in the First World War. His photograph is displayed today beside the Pool of Reflection.

This is but one of the many stories of service and sacrifice told here at the Australian War Memorial. We now remember Corporal James Stewart, who gave his life for us, for our freedoms, and in the hope of a better world.

Michael Kelly
Historian, Military History Section