Pte 16051 Robert Arthur Stewart

• Age: 30
• From: Liverpool
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 17th Btn
• K.I.A Tuesday 31st July 1917
• Commemorated at: Zantvoorde Brit Cem
  Panel Ref: III.J.14

Robert Arthur Stewart was born in 1887 in Liverpool and resided in Wallasey and was the son of Robert and Isabella Stewart (nee Taylor).

The 1901 Census shows the family living at 14, Adelaide Road, West Derby, Liverpool. His father, Robert, is aged 50, born in Stirling, Scotland in 1851, occupation, coach wheel maker, whilst his mother, Isabella is aged 55, born in Kendal, Westmoreland in 1846 has no occupation listed. They have four children, living at home, all of whom were born in Liverpool, Amy aged 22, born 1879 a school teacher, Fred aged 20, born 1871 a correspondence clerk, Lillian aged 16, born 1885 is a merchants clerk and Robert Arthur is aged 13, born 1888. They also have their niece Annie Denson aged 7, born 1894 living with them. 

The 1911 Census shows the family now living at 1 Moreton Grove, Wallasey. His father, Robert, is now aged 60,  and is employed as chapel keeper, whilst his mother, Isabella, is aged 65. They have been married for thirty three years and have had five children of which one had died. They have three children still living with them, Fred Taylor aged 30, is a general clerk and Lillian aged 26, a book-keeper with a provisions merchant and Robert Arthur is aged 23, is a general clerk with a cotton merchant. Their niece Annie Denson aged 17 is still living with them. 

He enlisted on the 31st August 1914 at St George's Hall in Liverpool joining the 17th Battalion of The King’s Liverpool Regiment as Private No 16051. He gave his age as 27 years and 120 days and his occupation as a clerk. He was five feet six inches tall, weighed 115lbs, sallow complexion, brown eyes, brown hair and gave his religion as Church of England. 

He was billeted at Prescot Watch Factory from 14^th September 1914, he trained there and also at Knowsley Hall. On 30th April 1915 the 17th Battalion alongside the other three Pals battalions left Liverpool via Prescot Station for further training at Belton Park, Grantham. They remained here until September 1915 when they reached Larkhill Camp on Salisbury Plain. He arrived in France on 07^th November 1915.

30.4.16: Appointed unpaid Lance Corporal.

15.7.16: Reverts to Private by order of C.O. 

31.8.16: Granted 1st Good Conduct Badge on completion of two years service.

23.1.17: Sick to 97 Field Ambulance.

28.1.17: 30 D.R.S. Myalgia.

29.1.17: Returned to duty.

01.7.17-11.7.17: Leave to the United Kingdom.

He was killed in action on the 31st July 1917 aged 30 during the Third Battle of Ypres better known as the Battle of Passchendaele.

17^th Battalion

On that day, the 89th Brigade was to follow up the attacks of the 21st and 90th Brigades and once their objectives had been taken, to go through them and secure a line of strong points on the German third line. The 89th Brigade line of attack was from the South West corner of Polygon Wood, to the Menin Road. The 17th Battalion, The King’s Liverpool Regiment was on the left of the attack, and the 20th to the right, with the 19th Battalion and the 2nd Battalion The Bedfordshire Regiment, in Divisional Reserve.

The Battalion moved into assembly positions east of Maple Copse between 05.00 and 05.20am, they were heavily shelled and suffered many casualties. At 07.50 they began to advance with the 17^th Battalion on the left, and the 20^th on the right, the whole time under heavy shell fire. On reaching their position which was the Blue Line , troops of both the 21^st and 90^th Brigades were still pinned down  and thus any attempt at further progress were futile.

Despite this they pushed on until their flank was just touching Clapham Junction. They then dug in and awaited the inevitable bombardment which hit them soon after. Despite this, they held onto the ground.  

During the action and their time in the line the 17^th Battalion lost three officers and 79 men killed or died of wounds and four officers and 198 men wounded. They were eventually relieved on the night of 3^rd -4^th August.    

 Robert now rests at Zantvoorde British Cemetery, Belgium. 

Zantvoorde British Cemetery was made after the Armistice when remains were brought in from the battlefields and nearby German cemeteries. Many were those of soldiers who died in the desperate fighting round Zantvoorde, Zillebeke and Gheluvelt in the latter part of October 1914.

There are now 1,583 servicemen of the First World War buried or commemorated in the cemetery. 1,135 of the burials are unidentified. Special memorials commemorate 32 soldiers buried in two of the German cemeteries whose graves could not be found on concentration. The cemetery also contains one Second World War burial.The Household Cavalry Memorial, unveiled by Lord Haig in May 1924, stands on the South side of the village at the place where part of the Brigade was annihilated in 1914.

The cemetery was designed by Charles Holden.

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