Private Donald William Stewart was a 23 year old miner originally from Inverness, Scotland when he attested into the 51st Battalion at Edmonton in February 1915. He was sent as a reinforcement to the 15th Battalion in June 1916 during the battle of Mount Sorrel, was posted to No. 3 Company and served in the 1916 trench tours at Hill 60 in July and August. He suffered a GSW to the head and shrapnel wounds to the left hand and right leg on the Somme during the battle for Regina Trench on September 26th. He was evacuated to # 9 General Hospital Rouen and from there to # 26 General Hospital Etaples before being sent to a Canadian Convalescent Hospital in the UK. He rejoined the 15th Battalion in February 1917 and served in all 1917 trench tours and the battles of Vimy ridge in April, Hill 70 in August and Passchendaele in October-November. In 1918 her served in the trench tours at Loos in January and February where he was wounded on February 13th. Following medical treatment, Private Stewart rejoined the battalion in September and took part in the battle of the Canal du Nord. On October 20th the 15th Battalion passed through the 16th Battalion to continue the advance/pursuit of the Germans towards the town of Wallers with No. 1 and No. 3 Company leading. The companies encountered German rear guard machine gun posts and during the engagement Private Stewart suffered a GSW to the abdomen. He was evacuated to the 1st Canadian Casualty Clearing Station and from there to the 1st General Hospital Camiers before being transferred to England where he received further medical treatment in hospitals at Lewisham, Orpington, Epsom, the 1st Western Hospital in Liverpool and # 5 Canadian General Hospital where he died of his wounds on January 7, 1919. Private Stewart is buried in his family’s plot in Inverness (Tomnahurich) Cemetery.
His brother Private Alistair John Stewart was KIA in April 1917 while serving with the 10th Battalion and is also commemorated on the family headstone.
NOK: Mrs D. Stewart (M) Carron Brae, Beaufort Rd., Inverness, Scotland. Son of Donald Stewart, of Cannabach, Bonar Bridge, Sutherlandshire, and the late Jane Macdonald Stewart.
