Private Sefton Inglis Stewart the grandson of Reverend Hugh McLean of Matawatchan, Ontario, killed in action the first day of the Battle of Amiens. Son of James and Margaret Stewart, of Richmond, Ontario.
Enlistment of Private Sefton Inglis Stewart
Private Sefton Inglis Stewart 145820 attested 21 March 1916 in Ottawa with the 77th Battalion, standing 6 feet tall, 145 pounds, with fair (ruddy) complexion, blue eyes and brown hair.
77th Battalion Overseas Battalion
Organized in July 1915 under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel D R Street. Mobilized at Ottawa, and also recruited in Ottawa, Lindsay, Smith Falls, Arnprior, Renfrew, Finch, Alexandria, Cornwall, Iroquois, Shawville, Quyon, Buckingham, Hull, and Aylmer. Draft of 255 sent to England in October 1915, than a draft of 100 sent to 38th Battalion in Bermuda in December 1915, and finally a draft of 50 sent to 224th Battalion in December 1915. Embarked from Halifax 20 June 1916 aboard MISSANABIE and later disembarked England 28 June 1916 with a strength of 38 officers, 1007 other ranks. Draft of 32 to 73rd Battalion and another draft to 4th Canadian Division in July 1916.
Private Sefton Inglis Stewart sailed from Halifax per SS MISSANABIE on 19 June 1916.
Dear Mother: –
2 August 1916, Pte. Sefton Stewart
How is everybody as for me I am quite well there are so many things to tell I don’t know what to tell first wrote two letters on ship but didn’t get posting them, because it was reported no letters to be mailed within four days after our arrival. Did you get the
cable gram we sent? We had a very good trip, the weather being fine, except the first two days which were foggy. A great many were sick, Sid and Arthur were sick for half a day, but we were all dizzy at first. Left Halifax Tues. morning, arrived in Eng. Thurs 28th.
Our ship, the Missanabie, Empress of Britain and the Drake a man-of-war sailed together saw quite a few ships, the Drake guarded them off to find their nationality, the water was very calm, so we saw a lot of large fish.
77 Battalion
A Co. No 1 Platoon
Bramshott Camp
Bramshott Camp
Private Sefton Inglis Stewart transferred to the 73rd Battalion on 3 July 1916 at Bramshott Camp.
Came into Liverpool Harbour Thurs. night, it is a very large
harbour being crowded with ships. Stopped off in
Birmingham Station which is a very busy place. Got off at Liphoule Station marched from there to Bramshott Camp which is about two miles, this camp is so large you would easily get lost, there being about 40,000 troops stationed here.
Saw Percy Foster out of the 89th and Michael Fox out of the 38th both being very glad to see us. We are crowded in about fifteen in each tent, making it very hard to move around, the accommodations are yet poor but are getting things fix up as soon as possible, the first few days we had to march a mile and a half for dinner.
Private Sefton Inglis Stewart
Inspection
On the 1st July there was an inspection of all these troops by the king at Hindhead eight miles from our camp. A. Co. of the 77 went as a guard being the first time to see the king, it was some thing wonderful to see such a gathering of troops, there was a lot of fine horses in the artillery. It took them all afternoon to move off the grounds Batt. After Batt. The drill is mostly with packs on, and a great many men fell out, that is of the Battalions that were inspected. They drill every day except Sunday and often they drill Sunday, as yet I don’t know whether the 77th will or not.
The second day we were here there was an inspection by Lord Brooks Commander of this Camp a lot of the Battalions were divided, but we haven’t been yet.
Private Sefton Inglis Stewart
73rd Battalion
Organized in June 1915 under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel Peers Davidson. Recruiting began on 4 September 1915 after the 60th Battalion had finished. Mobilized at Montreal and also recruited in Montreal, parts of Ontario and Quebec. The 73rd embarked from Halifax 1 April 1916 aboard ADRIATIC and later disembarked in England on 9 April 1916 with a strength of 36 officers, 1033 other ranks. Arrived in France 13 August 1916 with the 4th Canadian Division.
Anticipating proceeding overseas, Sefton completes his will on 8 July 1916, and entered France on 12/13 August 1916 with the 73rd Battalion.
Scottish Lines
On 12 August 1916 the 73rd Battalion left Southampton and arrived at Le Havre, France on 12 August 1916. B and C Companies marched to the Scottish Lines on 19 August 1916. On the Ypres Road the battalion came under artillery fire and suffered 3 Officers killed, 7 Other Ranks killed and 16 wounded. All killed buried at Brandhoek Military Cemetery.
The 73rd Battalion returned to the Vimy Sector in November 1916 and suffered 45 men killed during the month. Similar casualties with forty-five men killed during the Battle of Vimy Ridge.
Just out of the trenches
Just out of the trenches – Dec 31, 1916
Somewhere
In FranceDear Mother:
Just came out of the trenches after being in for six days, which included Christmas it was certainly a new Xmas for us it continued on raining throughout the day, everything was quite quiet all day until coming on night when they open up their artillery quite freely, keeping this up longer than usually, they sure celebrated the day, on our side the bombardment didn’t cause much harm, not knowing whether there was many casualties on Fritz or not, but their line was pretty well blown in.
The trenches are very muddy this time of the year, being half full of water in some places, have been using long hip rubber boots when in the worse parts of the line. On Xmas day we nearly had a few Fritzies coming over. we were out in a sap, this is a trench running out in front of the main line, which is really a strong point, one of the lads signaled over and we would take them prisoners and woulded open fire, they came over quite a ways, but our officer saw us up trying to get them over and called us down, they are pretty well fed up with as well as the rest of us. We didn’t do any sniping Xmas day, but put on a hot celebration that night. You spoke of us getting furloughs, they are yet to come.
With Love To All
Sefton.
Support Lines
In the support line of trenches- -March 22, 1917
FranceDear Mother:
Just a few lines to let you know everything is OK, have received quite few parcels from home the last two weeks, but have not been getting letters, none of the lads in fact have got of late, I think there was a mail boat sank, also got a letter and parcel from Lizzie Boyd some time ago.We have been in the trenches for some time, I therefore have had not much chance of writing, I suppose you have been expecting a letter, for it is about two weeks since I wrote, but sent you a field card or what we call a whizz bang over here. I guess there is plenty of snow in Canada yet, as I remember there was this time last year, am now about a year enlisted, and am in France coming eight months. At present we are in the support line, there being 24 men in a small dug-out so you have a slight idea how hard it is to write. There is talk of us going out after a few days more in the front line, but I don’t know whether we will get divisional rest, which we have been expecting for this long time.
While in this line we do working parties, you have no idea how much there is to be done in the line of bringing up ammunition, supplies and material needed for the repairing of trenches, dug-outs, and also for tunneling or mining.
The weather lately has been very changeable, of course it always is over in this country, some days it will be raining a hour after [Crossed out: it] the sun will be shinning, while the following day it may be snowing. There is now great talk of peace suppose you have seen by the papers about the great advancing which is going on all along the line, especially on the Somme, I hope all the reports are true, but a great many of these reports are exaggerated.
Are the 207th. still in Amherst? got a letter from Clissee about two weeks ago she was then fine. Well you will have to excuse my short letter and form.
With Love To All.
Sefton
Following the Battle of Vimy Ridge, on 19 April 1917, Sefton SoS to the 13th Battalion in the field.
13th Battalion (Royal Highlanders of Canada)
The 13th Battalion (Royal Highlanders of Canada) of the Canadian Expeditionary Force organized in Valcartier Camp in September 1914 composed of recruits from Montreal, and initially commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel F O W Loomis. Embarked Quebec 25 September 1914 aboard ALAUNIA, and later disembarked in England 16 October 1914 with a strength of 45 officers, 1110 other ranks.
The 13th Battalion disembarked in France 16 February 1915 with the 1st Canadian Division, 3rd Infantry Brigade, and later reinforced by 20th Canadian Reserve Battalion.
Wounded
Private Sefton Inglis Stewart admitted to No 2 Cdn Fld Amb Depot, 26 May 1917, shrapnel in left hand.
Sefton returned to duty the same day. His minor wound perhaps from the Vimy battle, as his unit has been in training at Gouay-Servins during this period.
Private Sefton Inglis Stewart granted 10 days leave to Paris, 29 August 1917, later returning on 10 September 1917.
Hill 70
August 18, 1917 – After the Battle of Hill 70
France, Aug.18/17.
Dear Mother:
Just a few lines to let you know everything is OK. as I suppose you have heard of the scrap the Canadians had the last few days.Two of my chums Gatton, and Andrew Hirsch from Carp, they were reported missing first but I afterwards heard they went through the dressing station which I was very glad to hear. Gatton is from Montreal as I think I told you before was also a friend of Ervie’s and Sid’s. You mind the Armstrong boy was at our place now killed well his brother I think was killed they certainly had hard luck.
We made old Fritz [step] a few got quite a few souvenirs wish I could get some home, of course this wasn’t as big affair as the ninth just [REDACTED] took part in this. I guess Pa and George have busy this month at the harvest. Will write soon again.
With Love To All
Sefton.
Letter Home
All Sefton’s letter’s home available courtesy of the Goulbourn Museum.
Battle of Amiens
Private Sefton Inglis Stewart killed in action on 8 August 1918, the opening day of the Battle of Amiens.
Only a few of the forth-eight 13th Battalion casualties on the 8th Missing and listed on Vimy. Most of the men buried in Hangard Wood British Cemetery, with the exception of Private Henry Clyde Harvey and Private Sefton Inglis Stewart in Demuin British Cemetery.
Demuin British Cemetery
Demuin lost and recaptured on 30 March 1918, and lost again on the 31st, but on 8 August 1918, retaken by the 58th Canadian Battalion. The cemetery made by the 3rd Canadian Battalion in August 1918. Demuin British Cemetery contains 43 Great War burials, two of these unidentified.
Private Sefton Inglis Stewart buried in Row A, Grave 26.
St. Andrew’s U.C. (United Church) in Matawatchan
Private Sefton Inglis Stewart’s old church in Matawatchan will soon be destroyed. Sefton the grandson of Reverend Hugh McLean of Matawatchan, Ontario.
It is with great sadness that we announce the death of St. Andrew’s U.C. (United Church) in Matawatchan on Sunday, October 3, 2021, due to a dwindling of congregation. Interment or demolition to be followed at a later date.
https://www.eganvilleleader.ca/news/matawatchan-church-closure-marks-end-for-a-community/
That was a message sent out to congregation members in the fall of 2021 and since then the remaining members have decided to close the church, list the building and 10-acre property for sale and amalgamate with St. Luke’s United Church in nearby Denbigh.
For more than 100 years, Matawatchan was famous for its annual church picnic. A national heritage group warns that an estimated 9,000 churches will close in Canada in the next decade.
13th Battalion Victoria Cross Recipients
Private John Bernard Croak for actions at Amiens on 8 August 1918, and Corporal Herman Good for actions at Hangard Wood, also on 8 August 1918.
Lance Corporal Frederick Fisher for actions near St. Julien earlier on 23 April 1915. Canada’s first Victoria Cross of the Great War.
Royal Canadian Regiment Victoria Cross Recipients
Lieutenant Milton Fowler Gregg VC
Lieutenant Milton Fowler Gregg for operations near Cambrai, 27th September to 1st October, 1918.
Corporal Jess Randall Larochelle
The following soldier of The Royal Canadian Regiment deserves the same honour, Pte. Jess Randall Larochelle for actions on 14 October 2006 during the Afghanistan War. “I think if you looked up Canadian hero in the dictionary, you see a picture of Jess LaRochelle right next to it,” said General Rick J. Hillier.
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