James Harold Stewart
Encyclopedia
James Harold Stewart was an Australian recipient of the Military Medal
and Bar
during the First World War.
.
with the consent of his father at Melbourne on 27 June 1915. He listed his age as simply "18 years" as he would have only turned 17 less than five months prior to enlisting.
Pte Stewart was assigned to the 2nd Reinforcements of the 24th Australian Infantry Battalion and embarked from Melbourne aboard HMAT Demosthenes on 15 July 1915.
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On 14 October 1917, the Brigadier-General, Commanding Second Australian Division recommended Pte Stewart for the Military Medal:
The citation for Pte Stewart's Military Medal appeared in the London Gazette
on 14 January 1918, and the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette on 23 May.
The citation for Pte Stewart's Military Medal Bar did not appear in the London Gazette until 23 July 1919.
in 1924. He died on 21 October 1956 at age 58 and is now buried with his wife (who died 29 July 1978) at the Waugh Road Monumental Cemetery, North Albury
.
Military Medal
The Military Medal was a military decoration awarded to personnel of the British Army and other services, and formerly also to personnel of other Commonwealth countries, below commissioned rank, for bravery in battle on land....
and Bar
Medal bar
A medal bar or medal clasp is a thin metal bar attached to the ribbon of a military decoration, civil decoration, or other medal. It is most commonly used to indicate the campaign or operation the recipient received the award for, and multiple bars on the same medal are used to indicate that the...
during the First World War.
Early life
Stewart was born Harold James Valentine Stewart on 12 February 1898. He was the fourth child of James and Matilda Stewart of CollingwoodCollingwood, Victoria
Collingwood is an inner city suburb of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 3 km north-east from Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area is the City of Yarra...
.
Enlistment and training
Stewart volunteered for service with the Australian Imperial ForceAustralian Imperial Force
The Australian Imperial Force was the name given to all-volunteer Australian Army forces dispatched to fight overseas during World War I and World War II.* First Australian Imperial Force * Second Australian Imperial Force...
with the consent of his father at Melbourne on 27 June 1915. He listed his age as simply "18 years" as he would have only turned 17 less than five months prior to enlisting.
Pte Stewart was assigned to the 2nd Reinforcements of the 24th Australian Infantry Battalion and embarked from Melbourne aboard HMAT Demosthenes on 15 July 1915.
Military Medal
The citation for Pte Stewart's Military Medal appeared in the London Gazette
London Gazette
The London Gazette is one of the official journals of record of the British government, and the most important among such official journals in the United Kingdom, in which certain statutory notices are required to be published...
on 14 January 1918, and the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette on 23 May.
Military Medal and Bar
On 21 October the Temporary Commander of the 6th Australian Infantry Brigade, LTCOL Wiltshire, recommended Pte Stewart for a bar to his Military Medal:The citation for Pte Stewart's Military Medal Bar did not appear in the London Gazette until 23 July 1919.
Later life
Stewart married Jean Lorraine Kelton in AlburyAlbury, New South Wales
Albury is a major regional city in New South Wales, Australia, located on the Hume Highway on the northern side of the Murray River. It is located wholly within the boundaries of the City of Albury Local Government Area...
in 1924. He died on 21 October 1956 at age 58 and is now buried with his wife (who died 29 July 1978) at the Waugh Road Monumental Cemetery, North Albury
North Albury, New South Wales
North Albury is a suburb of the city of Albury, New South Wales, located north of the Albury Central Business District. At the 2006 census, North Albury had a population of 6089....
.