Capt Henry E Stewart, 8th Royal Sussex, kia 1/6/17: Any info?

[Moriaty]

I have been doing some research on Captain Henry Edward Stewart of the 8th Royal Sussex, a Pioneer Battlion, who went to France on 24 July 1915, received the Legion of Honour and was killed on 1 June 1917 at Henin sur Cojeul.

I know about his family background, that lived in Sussex, went to Oxford University and then worked for Cammell Laird in Sheffield.

I wondered whether anyone had any further information on him or his battalion.

I am particularly interested in what he was doing for Cammell Laird.

Thanks in anticipation for any help.

Moriaty

[sotonmate]

Moriarty

His service file may help with more details. WO339/13098 at Kew,only available to the Mk 1 eyeball. If you wish I can deploy mine in a few days time,but you need to PM me in case I don't look here again !

Sotonmate

[Moriaty]

Thanks Sotonmate!

[IPT]

Have you seen this picture in The War Illustrated Album de Luxe? - http://archive.org/stream/warillustratedal10hammuoft#page/3584/mode/2up

I found it using my Mk 2 eyeball.

[sotonmate]

M

It seemed a bit strange to me that a renowned shipbuilder was operating out of Sheffield !I turned a few stones and it seems that the Sheffield operation in the early 20th Century was named Johnson,Cammell and Co,which made,among other things,wheels and rails for the collective British Railway companies. The two companies did join together later and became the famous Cammell Laird that we know today.

Sotonmate

[IPT]

You probably know that he's remembered on the Cammell Laird Roll of Honour Cyclops Works ( now at Kelham Island ), just in case that's a clue.

Cyclops was a steel and iron works.

http://www.gracesguide.co.uk/Cammell,_Laird_and_Co

[Moriaty]

Thanks to all for their responses about Captain Stewart. Information from his service file should add a lot of information.

I had searched the War Illustrated in archive.org for a picture, but had looked at the earlier volumes covering 1917 and found nothing. It is great to see what he looked like.

My enquiry about Cammell Laird was prompted by the roll of honour that IPD refers to, I obviously will need to do a bit more research on this one!

Finally, I now realise that Captain Stewart's father, Honourary Lieutenant Colonel Edward Stewart, was involved with the British Red Cross, was knighted for his war services in 1917, and rose to be the Vice Chairman of the Executive Committee of the BRCS.

Dr Edward Stewart is referred to in this extract from the British Empire Web site in relation to Fabian Ware and what became the IWGC: Fabian Ware's "primary responsibility was gathering the wounded and stragglers and to bring them back to Red Cross Posts and hospitals. He also recorded where all the dead bodies were buried so that the next of kin could be notified. However, he and his unit went one step further by taking some responsiblity for the repair and upkeep of these graves. He was concerned that the makeshift graves scattered over a wide area would not withstand the passage of time and that families and next of kin might become distressed to not be able to find their loved one's graves or find them in considerable disrepair. He also was aware that the French Army was being much more systematic in the treatment of its war dead with wooden crosses being laid out in an orderly way in large graveyards. A Red Cross medical assessor, Lieutenant Colonel EDWARD STEWART, agreed with Ware and allowed him to switch his priorities to gathering as much information as possible about where the dead had fallen and to care for the upkeep of these graves. It was to be a Red Cross operation, but all the facilities and supplies required were supplied by the British Army. The War Office granted recognition of what became known as the 'Graves Registration Commission.' The Commission was soon inundated with requests for information, photographs and details of the location of the graves. It was clear that there was a heart-felt demand for the services of the Commission."

Dr Stewart was in Lille in October 1914 on behalf of the Red Cross and had visited the French cemetery at Bethune with Fabian Ware, he saw details written in pencil on the British wooden crosses and apparently suggested that the details be painted on the reverse of the crosses.

Moriaty

[sotonmate]

Moriaty

I have 6 pages from the Captain's service record and 21 from the War Diary for the period May 1 to Jun 1 1917. Please send your e-mail address by PM and I will pass them over.

Sotonmate

[Moriaty]

Thanks Sotonmate. Having sent you a PM, lots of really interesting information arrived shortly afterwards - very many thanks. I see that Captain Stewart was a Secretary's Assistant at Cammell Laird.

Moriaty

[Moriaty]

A further thanks to Sotonmate for sending me the War diary extracts. Much appreciated.

Moriaty