Guest Posted 13 March , 2019 Share Posted 13 March , 2019 I believe my Great Uncle John Napier Stewart was a noncombatant who served as a stretcher bearer with the Royal Scots Fusiliers (RSF) in WWI. I cannot find any details about his service record but I remember my grandmother, John's sister, kept a framed copy of his "Mentioned in Despatches" card on a table in her living room. The most important thing I can remember is the signature on the card - Winston S Churchill. I can only presume that Churchill at the time of signing was a colonel of the RSF, i.e. during the period when he gave up politics and sent himself to the frontline. I would be indebted if anyone could give me information as to how I can investigate further my uncle's service history. James S Dow Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Admin kenf48 Posted 13 March , 2019 Admin Share Posted 13 March , 2019 8 hours ago, James S Dow said: I believe my Great Uncle John Napier Stewart was a noncombatant who served as a stretcher bearer with the Royal Scots Fusiliers (RSF) in WWI. I cannot find any details about his service record but I remember my grandmother, John's sister, kept a framed copy of his "Mentioned in Despatches" card on a table in her living room. The most important thing I can remember is the signature on the card - Winston S Churchill. I can only presume that Churchill at the time of signing was a colonel of the RSF, i.e. during the period when he gave up politics and sent himself to the frontline. I would be indebted if anyone could give me information as to how I can investigate further my uncle's service history. HI and welcome to the forum. I can't really help on the information you have given, John Stewart was a very common name. There is a John N Stewart in the Medal Index Cards who was a civilian in the YMCA. I fear you just have to eliminate men who, for example died and then you're left with a list of probables. If he was in the Royal Scots Fusiliers he was not a non-combatant. The MiD should be recorded in the London or Edinburgh Gazette but nothing jumps out, It could be it was a 'gallantry card' issued by his C.O. You might have more luck if you start your own thread in 'Soldiers', in the meantime suggest you have a look at the Long Long Trail website (link top right) on how to research a soldier. I would also mention for your own security it's not a good idea to put personal email addresses on the open forum. Good luck with your research. Ken Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Admin Michelle Young Posted 14 March , 2019 Admin Share Posted 14 March , 2019 Post edited to remove email address and new post in Soldiers created Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
michaeldr Posted 14 March , 2019 Share Posted 14 March , 2019 On 13/03/2019 at 11:34, James S Dow said: John's sister, kept a framed copy of his "Mentioned in Despatches" card on a table in her living room. The most important thing I can remember is the signature on the card - Winston S Churchill. I can only presume that Churchill at the time of signing was a colonel of the RSF, i.e. during the period when he gave up politics and sent himself to the frontline The card would have been signed by the Secretary of State for War - see the example here http://www.dcmmedals.co.uk/wp-content/themes/shopperpress/thumbs/2.-MID-cert-768x611.jpg Winston S Churchill filled that post from 1919 to (I think) 1921 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alf mcm Posted 14 March , 2019 Share Posted 14 March , 2019 James, If you provide John's place and date of birth it will male it easier to find records. If he was married before or during the war, then who to? Regards, Alf McM Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark1959 Posted 14 March , 2019 Share Posted 14 March , 2019 There in a medal index card for a John N Stewart of the YMCA. Card says Macedonia 29/1/17. British War Medal. Cannot find roll entry at the moment. Could this be him? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MaxD Posted 14 March , 2019 Share Posted 14 March , 2019 John Napier Stewart of the medal card has the address Benvue, Glasgow Road, Blantyre in the medal roll http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C7246862 (page 312) Max Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clk Posted 14 March , 2019 Share Posted 14 March , 2019 Hi James, 17 hours ago, kenf48 said: The MiD should be recorded in the London or Edinburgh Gazette but nothing jumps out, It could be it was a 'gallantry card' issued by his C.O. If that were to be the case, the possible date range would appear to be quite tight. The Adjutant & Quarter-Master General (9 Division) war diary has an entry for 5th January 1916, part of which reads "Major Winston Churchill Oxford Hussars took command of the 6 R. Scots" [Fusiliers]. I didn't see when he released his command, but Wiki suggests that he was back in the UK in March 1916. There is good general advice on how to research a soldier on the Long, Long Trail - see here. Regards Chris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark1959 Posted 14 March , 2019 Share Posted 14 March , 2019 There is this family in 1901 Scottish census in Blantyre John B Stewart 48 Mary S Stewart 48 Elizabeth S Stewart 19 Jessie J Stewart 19 Jane Stewart 16 William Stewart 14 John N Stewart 12 William Mcfarlane 23 Need James to see if this rings a bell Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
michaeldr Posted 14 March , 2019 Share Posted 14 March , 2019 6 minutes ago, clk said: I didn't see when he released his command, but Wiki suggests that he was back in the UK in March 1916. The OP seems quite clear that his uncle received an MiD However if the gallantry card option is to be pursued, then as far as I can tell, WSC left the battalion on May 7th, 1916, after the inspection by Major-General McCracken (O.C. 15th Div) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HarryBrook Posted 14 March , 2019 Share Posted 14 March , 2019 This is the link to the London Gazette notification of the M.i.D. to Mr. J. N. Stewart, Y.M.C.A., https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/31908/supplement/5708 see page 5705 for the heading, Despatch of Gen. Sir G. F. Milne, commanding the British Army of the Black Sea. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Admin kenf48 Posted 14 March , 2019 Admin Share Posted 14 March , 2019 14 minutes ago, michaeldr said: The OP seems quite clear that his uncle received an MiD Indeed, I merely mentioned the gallantry card as I could not find a reference in the Gazette (not unusual!). The O.P. also seems quite clear his uncle served in the Royal Scots Fusiliers and not the YMCA as mentioned in the initial reply, even though that gentleman seems a reasonable fit and should at least be eliminated. If not him the best bet would probably be to view all the John Stewart RSF Medal Cards on Ancestry (free) following the advice on the LLT to see if there is reference on the card https://www.longlongtrail.co.uk/research-mention-despatches/. Or of course a more thorough search of the Gazette. He does appear to have survived but again without more detail even a CWGC search doesn't help. Ken Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MaxD Posted 14 March , 2019 Share Posted 14 March , 2019 The date of publication of the MiD and the signature of WSC as S of S for War would seem to add up. Macedonia on the medal card and roll adds up to 8th Battalion R Scots Fus. However, looking forward to hearing regarding the address and family. Max Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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