Pte 32328 George Arthur Stewart

• Age: 29
• From: Liverpool
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 18th Btn
• D.O.W Friday 19th October 1917
• Commemorated at: St Sever Cem Ext Rouen
  Panel Ref: P.III.M.8B

George Arthur Stewart was born on 03^rd January 1888 at Liverpool and was the son of Robert David and Mary Ann Stewart of 22 Earle Road, Liverpool.

The 1901 Census finds the family living at 56 Paddington, Liverpool. George's father is a 44 year old stonemason, his mother is 42 years of age. They have seven children in the household; Charles is a 20 year old stonemason, Marian is 19 years old with no occupation listed, Elizabeth is an 18 year old draper's assistant, George A. is 13, Lucy J. is 5, Reginald is 3 and newborn Dorothy is one month old.   

George was educated at St Saviour School, Falkner Square, Huskisson Street, first attending in 1901.

The 1911 Census shows the family living at 22 Earle Street, Liverpool. His father, Robert, is aged 54, born in Liverpool in 1857 is a stonecutter,  his mother Mary Ann is aged 52, born 1859 in Chester. They have been married for thirty four years and have had thirteen children of which five had died. Those children declared in the household are; George Arthur aged 23, born 1888 a stone cutter, Lucy aged 15,born 1896 a shop apprentice and Reginald aged 14, born 1897 at school.

He enlisted in Liverpool and was serving in the 18th Battalion, The King’s Liverpool Regiment as Private No 32328 when he died of wounds on the 19th October, 1917 aged 29 during the Third Battle of Ypres.

A newspaper report of his death advised:

STEWART - In ever-loving memory of GEORGE ARTHUR (2nd Pals) who died of wounds received in action, October 19, 1917 the dearly beloved second son of Mr and Mrs Stewart of Edge Hill, late of New Brighton.

He now rests at St Sever Cemetery Extension, Rouen, France.

During the First World War, Commonwealth camps and hospitals were stationed on the southern outskirts of Rouen. A base supply depot and the 3rd Echelon of General Headquarters were also established in the city.

Almost all of the hospitals at Rouen remained there for practically the whole of the war. They included eight general, five stationary, one British Red Cross and one labour hospital, and No. 2 Convalescent Depot. A number of the dead from these hospitals were buried in other cemeteries, but the great majority were taken to the city cemetery of St. Sever. In September 1916, it was found necessary to begin an extension, where the last burial took place in April 1920.

The Cemetery and the Extension adjoin each other but have separate Registers.

During the Second World War, Rouen was again a hospital centre and the extension was used once more for the burial of Commonwealth servicemen, many of whom died as prisoners of war during the German occupation.

The cemetery extension contains 8,348 Commonwealth burials of the First World War (ten of them unidentified) and in Block "S" there are 328 from the Second World War (18 of them unidentified). There are also 8 Foreign National burials here. The adjoining St. Sever Cemetery contains 3,082 Commonwealth burials of the First World War. There is also 1 French burial and 1 non war service burial here.

The extension was designed by Sir Reginald Blomfield.

He is also commemorated on the following Memorials:

Hall of Remembrance, Liverpool Town Hall, Panel 41 Right

St Saviour’s School, Liverpool.

We currently have no further information on George Arthur Stewart, If you have or know someone who may be able to add to the history of this soldier, please contact us.