The Last Post Ceremony commemorating the service of (1744) Sergeant Norman Colin Stewart, 53rd Battalion, 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 Melanie Cassar, the story for this day was on (1744) Sergeant Norman Colin Stewart, 53rd Battalion, First World War.

1744 Sergeant Norman Colin Stewart, 53rd Battalion
DOW 11 April 1918

Today we remember and pay tribute to Sergeant Norman Colin Stewart.

Norman Stewart was born in 1895 to William Wallace Stewart and his second wife, Elizabeth. His father was a member of a well-known pioneer family of the Manning River district. Norman grew up in a large family of brothers, sisters and half-siblings, and attended school in Taree. His father, who had worked as a farmer and contractor in and around Tinonee, died in 1911. Norman went on to work as a mail driver in the district.

Norman Stewart was one of six sons of William Stewart to serve during the First World War. He enlisted with his brother Jack in February 1916. After a period of training in Australia, the brothers left for active service overseas with reinforcements to the 53rd Battalion the following April. They spent a few days in Egypt before being sent on to England, completing their training on Salisbury Plain. Norman Stewart joined his battalion on the battlefields of the Western Front in September 1916, and shortly afterwards was promoted to lance corporal.

Stewart spent most of the bitterly cold winter of 1916 to 1917 rotating in and out of the front line with his battalion. In April 1917 he was wounded in the hand while holding the line near Bullecourt, and was taken to hospital in England to recover. He returned to his battalion in France in July 1917. After his return he received a series of promotions, which would end with his becoming sergeant in November.

In September the 53rd Battalion took part in the battle of Polygon Wood. During this operation his brother Jack, also serving with the 53rd Battalion, was wounded in the chest and neck and evacuated to England. He would return in February 1918, just as the Germans were launching a large scale offensive.

In order to defend against the German advance, the 53rd Battalion was put into position near the French town of Villers-Bretonneux. In early April it held the front line, keeping constant vigil for any sign of a German attack, and patrolled no man’s land. Snipers were very active on both sides. On 9 April 1918 the 53rd Battalion was relieved after three very tense days. On that day, however, Sergeant Norman Stewart was shot in the abdomen. He was evacuated from the front line, but died of his wounds two days later at a nearby casualty clearing station. He was buried in the Namps-au-Val British Cemetery, where he lies today. He was 23 years old.

Norman’s brother Jack, who had enlisted with him two years before, continued to defend the line with the 53rd Battalion. He was killed in action on 24 April 1918, nearly two weeks after his brother.

Their names are listed on the Roll of Honour on my right, among almost 62,000 Australians who died while serving in the First World War.

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

Meleah Hampton
Historian, Military History Section