Stewart was born in Gloucester on the 15th of May 1910 to Alexander and Flora Elizabeth Shaw.
Working as a dairy farmer at ‘Wajira’ via Gloucester, Stewart signed his attestation papers at Paddington on the 23rd of May 1941. Being single, he gave his mother as his next of kin (NOK). He marched in to Military General Details Depot, Sydney on 1st of July 1941 to commence his army career.
Raised in Dubbo 1940, the 1 Field Training Unit (1FTU) later moved to Cowra, which was where Stewart joined the unit, marching in on the 4th of July. Shortly thereafter, on the 12th of August, he was granted 7 days sick leave.
On the 7th of September Stewart was detached to ECTS Artillery Wing to continue his training and rejoined his unit on the 7th of October at Warwick Farm
Steward embarked per HMT ‘LL’ on the 2nd of November 1941 to disembark in the Middle East on the 24th of November.
Suffering from measles on the 3rd of December, Stewart was evacuated to 1 Australian General Hospital and was released back to 1FTU on the 17th of December.
The 2/5th Field Regiment was formed in May 1940 and assigned to the 7th Division. The regiment undertook defensive duties in Egypt during the North African campaign in early 1941, before taking part in the Syria-Lebanon campaign. At its conclusion in mid-July with an armistice, the regiment undertook occupation duties for the remainder of 1941. During this time, the 2/5th detached one battery to Latakia, to provide support to forces guarding the Turkish border, while the remainder of the regiment occupied the Tripoli fortress. With Japan entering the war, the 2/5th Field Regiment was moved to Palestine in January in preparation for its return to Australia.
On the 2nd of February 1942 Stewart marched out of the Artillery Training Regiment for the 2/5th Field in Palestine however his stay in the Middle East was short lived as the unit embarked on the 11th of February aboard the SS Nieuw Amsterdam with US Convoy 9 bound for Bombay but was transhipped to TS Nualla on the 21st of February.
Landing in Adelaide on the 29th of March, the regiment moved overland to Queensland, reaching Kilcoy in May. There, the regiment concentrated with the 18th Brigade, which was tasked with defensive duties in the event of a Japanese invasion.
On the 10th of July Stewart was graded Group II Signaller.
In August 1942, the regiment’s first battery, the 9th, deployed to Milne Bay in support of the 18th Brigade, as Japanese forces advanced along the Kokoda Track towards Por Moresby. They subsequently took part in the Battle of Milne Bay, while the rest of the regiment was preparing for deployment around Woodford, arriving in October.
On the 28th of September 1942 Stewart embarked in Brisbane aboard the SS Katoomba, disembarking New Guinea on the 7th of October.
The 55th Battery subsequently took part in the capture of Buna, being moved by sea from Oro Bay aboard several luggers.
During the move on the 16th of November1942, the vessels were strafed by Japanese Zero fighters from Rabaul. Two guns were lost, as well as several personnel killed. Sadly, Stewart was one of those lost in this action. His body was not recovered.
