Older Soldiers

Diary of Private Edmund Douglas Stewart, 26th Infantry Battalion, 1916-1917

Edmund Stewart was one month short of 44 years when he enlisted in June 1916, although he had attested to being 42 and 11 months.

Until June 1915 the age requirements had been 19-38, however this was expanded to include men between 18-45 of age, which meant that those previously ineligible were now able to enlist.

Assigned to the 26th Infantry Battalion, Stewart left Brisbane in October 1916. Recently widowed, he had entrusted his 3 children to the care of his sister-in-law and nurse Frances Jane Sands. Stewart kept a brief diary of his voyage starting from Fremantle, Western Australia until he was encamped at Rolleston, Salisbury Plains, England.

The diary written in the form of short letters, and details the conditions aboard a troopship, with a cargo of over 2,000 men. On the voyage he was given the rank of Lance Corporal to lead parties of men on fatigues, usually evening watches or pickets.

Stewart had resigned his position as manager of the Australian Bank of Commerce in Ipswich, to do “his duty” and join the forces of the AIF.  He had been a keen cricketer, as had his father Charles Lennox Stewart, as well as a fine horse rider and hurdler.

Stewart now found himself in the company of all manner of men, suffering the indignity of having his kit stolen several times, but he took delight in finding acquaintances from Warwick and Killarney.

Whilst anchored off Freetown, Sierra Leone, some of the company went ashore, bringing back with them an assortment of wildlife including a python and two monkeys. Stewart along with several other men were bitten and the offending creature was deemed too dangerous to keep onboard.

Stewart and his company reached the training school at Salisbury Plains early in 1917, he was attached to his battalion in France in May where they were employed to breach the Hindenburg Line defences around Bullecourt. Later that year the 26th Battalion fought in the Battle of Menin Road, Belgium and on 20 September, Stewart was severely wounded by a gun shot to his left arm, shattering the bone.

Private Stewart was evacuated to England where his condition was treated, but after a short period of leave he was considered too old to remain on active service. He sailed for Australia in December 1917 and was welcomed home by his family and friends. Fortunately Edmund Stewart was able to return to his career with the Australian Bank of Commerce in Ipswich, where he remained until he retired two years before his death in 1934.

He left behind his three children - Valmai, Ronald and John, and his second wife Frances.

Further reading:

• OM81-79 Edmond Douglas Stewart Diary 1916-1917
• Service Record: STEWART, Edmund Douglas
• Australian War Memorial: 26th Infantry Battalion
• Unit diary: 26th Infantry Battalion, September 1917