Lieutenant Colonel Douglas Macbean STEWART Clicking on Photo will return to Page S - T

STEWART Lieutenant Colonel Douglas Macbean (Mentioned in despatches) No. 6/1171, 1st (Canterbury) Company. Commanding Officer, Canterbury Battalion, New Zealand Expeditionary Force. Born 25th May 1877, Ashburton NZ [Birth certificate: 1877 2639 [Ashburton dist. Sep qtr] NZ] Educated: Christchurch Boys' High School, NZ Married; Accountant, of 100 Winchester Street, Christchurch, NZ Next of Kin listed as: Wife; Edith Illa Stewart (nee Fisher) / Mother; Annie Stevens [Mrs J.?] Macbean Stewart, of 100 Winchester Street, Christchurch / 168 Bealey Avenue, Christchurch, NZ. Photos of Lieutenant Colonel Stewart are known to exist in the following locations: Group photo: Ferguson p8. Ferguson p97. Walker p42. Group photo: Canterbury Times 2 Sep 1914 p38. The Weekly Press (Christchurch) 12 MAy 1915 p36. Auckland Weekly News 13 May 1915 p39. Canterbury Times 2 June 1915.

Wife's name also listed as: Mrs A. Macbean Stewart. Casualty List 2 (Canterbury Times 12 May 1915 p30). Father; the late Dr. M.S. Stewart. 'Married to a daughter of Mr R. Hill Fisher'. 3 children; two boys, one girl; eldest 12 years. (Canterbury Times 12 May 1915 p32).

Middle name 'Everard' when signing his name, this appears on his birth certificate record. Next-of-kin listed as mother; Mrs J. Macbean Stewart, Bealey Avenue Christchurch. Married Edith Illa Fisher at Avonside, Christchurch, 9 April 1902. Married by Reverend Canon Pascoe. Three children; Ian Warren born 30 March 1903, Donald Macbean born 16 March 1905, Patricia Joan Hill born 24 Feb 1910, all in Christchurch. (Military History Sheet).

One son (Donald) attended Christ's College, Christchurch. (Student No. 3208). (Flower p369).

Killed at The Nek, during the Turkish counter-attack of the afternoon of April 25th: 'Stewart evidently saw the line of Morshead's men near Malone's Gully, for Morshead received from him three messages at short intervals. The first was an order to retire upon the Canterbury line; the next - 'Stay where you are. We will come up to you.' A little later came a message to retire. In the interval between the last two the shrapnel fire upon The Nek had been tremendously heavy. A few minutes later Stewart was killed.' (Bean V1 p313 quoted, 314, 334; Map no. 14, facing p314).

'A Soldier's Death: Colonel McBean Stewart's End - Shot While Bringing Relief.
The following account of Colonel McBean Stewart's death at the head of the Canterbury Infantry Battalion, at Gallipoli, has been forwarded ro Colonel Chaffey from headquarters. The story is given as it was told to Captain R.E. Coningham, General Staff, New Zealand and Australian Division, by Lieutenant R.A.R. Lawry, Canterbury Battalion:
- 'Lieutenant-Colonel D. McBean Stewart took up the first two companies to prolong the left of the Auckland Battalion (224 C 8-6), and then returned to the beach to meet his other two companies. Here he met Brigadier-General Walker and Captain Coningham. His other two companies having disembarked, he was told to take them up to Walker's Ridge (237 X 7 - 224 C 5). This he did. Lieutenant-Colonel Stewart then worked his way along to see his two companies further to the right, subsequently returning to his left companies again. He saw Lieutenant R. A. R. Lawry, who was hard-pressed, and, seeing this, Lieutenant-Colonel Stewart went back and brought up 200 Australians, encouraging them in every way, and fearlessly exposing himself. Whilst doing this, he was shot in the head, and killed instantly. Lieutenant Lawry was close to him at the time.' 'Lieutenant Lawry and his men, plus the Australian reinforcements, repulsed three Turkish bayonet charges with loss and retired in good order with the remnants of his command to more suitable ground. The sad event took place on Sunday afternoon, April 25, 1915, on the Gallipoli Peninsula, about two miles north of Kaba Tepe.' (Canterbury Times 7 Jul 1915 p55). Argus 1 Dec 1915 p10. (Photo p42 [?]).

A letter from Major A.E. Loach, second in command, Canterbury Battalion, written from Anzac, reads in part: 'We were unfortunate in losing poor Douglas Stewart, he being separated from the rest of his battalion. However, he died fighting, and was as brave as they make them.' (Auckland Weekly News 24 Jun 1915 p19).

'Lieutenant-Colonel Stewart with the 2nd Company got well forward, and took up a position on the upper portion of Walker's Ridge which ran north-east from near Pope's Hill down to the sea. They immediately became involved in heavy fighting, and Lieutenant-Colonel Stewart, going back to bring up reinforcements, collected a large party of Australians, and was killed while exposing himself in leading them up to the firing line.' (Ferguson p26-7).

Letter from Private A. Pauline, B Company, Canterbury Battalion: 'Yes, poor Colonel Macbean Stewart died a noble death. He was directing the boys' fire with his walking stick when he was suddenly hit in the head, death being instantaneous. He only had about three hours' life on the battlefield.' (Wanganui Herald 16 Sep 1915 p4).

Top Of Page