Pte 57384 Michael Stewart

• Age: 29
• From: Kincardine, Perth
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 18th Btn
• D.O.W Sunday 8th April 1917
• Commemorated at: Warlincourt Halte Brit Cem
  Panel Ref: VI.J.1

Michael was born on 01st March 1888 in Kilmadock, Perthshire, Scotland, the son of Agnes Stewart.

On the 1891 Census, Michael is aged 3, the grandson of Duncan and Mary Ann Stewart who are living in Coldoch Cottage, Kilmadock, Perthshire. Also present in their household are their children: Agnes 23, Margaret 12, Fanny 10 and Robert 6.

On the 1901 Census, Michael is aged 13, the grandson of Duncan and Mary Anne Stewart, who are living at Little Mill, Kincardine, Perthshire. He has a brother now, Thomas aged 7 who is also listed as a grandson. None of their own children are present in the household.

Michael was living in Glasgow when he enlisted in the Lowland Division Cyclist Corps. He subsequently transferred to the Army Cyclist Corps as Private 1085 before a further transfer to the 18th Battalion of The King's Liverpool Regiment. He was serving as Private 57384 when he died of wounds on 08th April 1917, aged 29. 

Michael now rests at Warlincourt Halte British Cemetery in France at VI.J.1 where his headstone bears the epitaph:

"WHAT THE LORD GIVETH HE TAKETH AWAY" 

The site of the cemetery was chosen in May 1916. It was used from June 1916 to May 1917 by the 20th and 43rd Casualty Clearing Stations, in February 1917 by the 1/1st South Midland, and from April to June 1917 by the 32nd. The whole of plots VII, VIII, IX and X were filled in April and May 1917, the months of the Battles of Arras. From June 1917, the cemetery was practically unused until the fighting of May and June 1918, when field ambulances buried in it. After the Armistice the cemetery was increased by graves brought in from other smaller cemeteries.

The cemetery now contains 1,266 Commonwealth burials of the First World War. There are also 29 German and two French war graves.

The cemetery was designed by Charles Holden.

His death was reported in the Stirling Observer on the 27th April 1917

THORNHILL

Above we reproduce a photograph of Michael Stewart, Thornhill, grandson of Duncan Stewart, gardener there. Before enlisting, Michael Stewart was employed as second gardener at Dineidday, Milngarvie and joined the Lowland Division Cycle Corps in July 1915, reaching the rank of Lance Corporal. He was transferred, reverting to the rank of private, to the Army Cycle Corps, and again to the King's Liverpool Regiment. He went to France with this Regiment in December 1916, and was wounded in March, going back to the trenches that same month. He was in less than a fortnight seriously wounded, and entered the Clearing Station on April 1st suffering from gunshot wounds in the chest and right leg, dying there on the following Sunday. He was 29 years old.

His brother Tom, a photograph of whom we also reproduce, joined as sapper in the Lowland Field Company of the Engineers in November 1915, and has been in France all this year in the Stafford's.

Soldiers Effects to his Aunt Fanny Stewart, Pension to grandfather Duncan Stewart, Thornhill, Perthshire.

Michael is remembered on War Memorial at Strathblane, Stirling.

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