57 Battalion rod puppet : Lieutenant Colonel J C Stewart, 57 Battalion, AIF

Places
Accession Number RELAWM17329.005
Collection type Heraldry
Object type Heraldry
Physical description Glass, Metal, Paint, Wood
Maker Unknown
Place made France
Date made c 1916-1918
Conflict First World War, 1914-1918
Description

Hinged wooden doll or puppet. The figure has been carved from wood and has nailed tongue-and-groove joints at elbows, thigh and knees, and simple nailed joints at each shoulder. One arm is missing. The feet have been carved to represent boots. The carved face has been enhanced with a pair of small white glass bead eyes, nailed into place; the nails give the impression of pupils. The doll wears a tinplate helmet, possibly adapted from a fundraising example, which is affixed to the crown of the head with a screw. The words '57 BATT' have been carved into the chest. The entire figure has been painted black with the exception of the lower legs, mouth and helmet brim, which are painted brick red, and the helmet crown, which is painted cream. A crude Rising Sun badge in ink decorates the front of the helmet. A screw hole in the upper back of the figure may indicate the location point for a length of wire or wood which would have enabled the figure to be moved and manipulated in the manner of a rod puppet.

History / Summary

Rod puppet, possibly an unofficial mascot of 57 Battalion, associated with the service of James Campbell Stewart, born at Port Fairy on 19 January 1884, a bank officer of Elwood, Victoria. Stewart joined the Victorian Scottish Regiment in 1901, where steady promotions saw him commissioned in 1909, promoted to Lieutenant in 1911 and appointed Adjutant and Captain of 52 Infantry in August 1912. It was in this capacity that he enlisted with 5 Battalion, AIF on 17 August 1914, which was formed mainly from members of the Victorian Scottish Regiment.

He embarked from Melbourne aboard HMAT Orvieto on 21 October 1914, landed at Gallipoli on the morning of 25 April 1915 and immediately found himself acting commander; by mid afternoon he had been wounded by shrapnel. The next day he was promoted to Major. After recovery in Egypt, he rejoined his battalion on 2 June, remaining with them until the evacuation. For his service on Gallipoli, Stewart was awarded the Distinguished Service Order. With the creation of new AIF units in early 1916, he was chosen to command the newly-formed 57 Battalion (15 Brigade), one half created from half of 5 Battalion and the remainder from new recruits. He noted in his diary 'Wednesday 16 February 1916 - Got word tonight that Battalion had to be split up into two. One half to form part of 57th Battalion ... [next day] Battalion split up, great heart burning and tears at FGCM (Field General Courts-Martial) at 5th Battalion during morning.'

A month later, Stewart was promoted to lieutenant-colonel. The battalion arrived in France in late June, and on 19 July, participated in the Fromelles attack. The 57th was allocated a supporting role and suffered relatively light casualties but carried the burden of holding the line in ensuing days for the battalion. Early in 1917 the battalion participated in the advance that followed the German retreat to the Hindenburg Line. Stewart was made a Companion of St Michael and St George (CMG) for organising the 5 Division defence of Beaumetz. He was given temporary command of 15 Infantry Brigade for periods during 1916 and 1917.

Later in the year, the AIF's focus of operations switched to the Ypres sector in Belgium. The 57th's major battle here was at Polygon Wood on 26 September; they later participated in the counter-attack at Villers-Bretonneux on 25 April 1918. Stewart's command of 57 Battalion, however, had ended on 23 March 1918 when he was appointed brigadier-general commanding 14 Infantry Brigade; he was mentioned in dispatches on five occasions during this period. When the Allies launched their own offensive around Amiens on 8 August, 57 Battalion was amongst the units in action, although its role in the subsequent advance was limited.

The battalion entered its last major battle of the war on 29 September 1918, in co-operation with American forces, to break through the formidable German defences along the St Quentin Canal. Stewart continued his involvement in the militia after the war, commanding 14 Infantry Brigade until 1921, transferring to the 10th until 1926 and later 15th, until 1934. He served as chairman of the Farmer's Relief Board and as a member of the Closer Settlement Board. His close association with 57 Battalion was confirmed when he was made honorary Colonel of that battalion in late January 1929. He commanded the Volunteer Defence Corps from 1942 until 1945 and died in 1947.