9/999 Lt-Col George Hepburn Stewart, (21/1/1875-21/11/1915). "the famous charge"

Major George Hepburn Stewart left New Zealand in June 1915 commanding the 5th Reinforcements.  Not long after arrival on Gallipoli he was temporarily given command of the Canterbury Infantry Regiment and was evacuated with them at the end of the campaign.  He contracted dysentery - a common disease in a place of unburied bodies, bad sanitation and swarming flies - and died on Mudros Island, Greece.

TUAPEKA COUNY COUNCIL

ORDINARY MEETING (excerpt)

GOOD WISHES. Reference was made to the probable early departure of Major Stewart from Trentham for the front, and the Chairman moved: That this Council, through the County. Chairman, ( wire Major Stewart, Trentham, ere he leaves -New Zealand, wishing him Godspeed and good luck on his patriotic Journey to the front on behalf of the Empire and the glorious cause of suffering humanity, and also expresses its admiration of his wife's womanly patriotism.  -Tuapeka Times, 15/5/1915.

GALLANT OFFICERS

TRIBUTE TO MAJOR STEWART

A BRILLIANT CAREER

A very high tribute was paid to Major (Acting Colonel) Stewart, O.C. Otago Battalion, at Gallipoli, by one of the men who had been under his command from the first, and who returned wounded by the Willochra. The tribute took the form of a brief sketch of Major Stewart’s career. At the age of about twenty-eight, Major Stewart was an agent of the British Foreign Office at Petrograd. Returning to England, he occupied a position at Liverpool University, and held a commission in the Liverpool Scottish. He then came to Christchurch, to occupy the chair of classics at Canterbury College. He volunteered for service at the outbreak of war, and was appointed a lieutenant, in command of the 1st Platoon, 1st Canterbury Battalion, the platoon being composed of students of Canterbury College and old boys of Canterbury College and Christ’s College. At Cape Helles be was promoted to be acting-captain, vice Captain Gresson, wounded. He distinguished himself in leading a volunteer expedition to stem a Turkish blockhouse, in which attempt three men won the D.C.M., and Major Stewart was personally thanked by the General for his services. When Major Rowe, O.C. company, was invalided to Egypt shortly afterwards, Major Stewart assumed command of the company, and was promoted to a full captaincy three days before going into action in the famous charge of August 7. In that charge he further distinguished himself by the way in which he handled the situation, and he was appointed major and given command of the Otago Battalion, vice Colonel Moore. In the five or six months fighting the 1st Platoon, of the 1st Canterbury Regiment, as originally constituted, was practically wiped out, only Major Stewart and Sergeant Natusch remaining at the front fit for duty.  -Lyttelton Times, 1/11/1915.

FIFTY YEARS’ SERVICE.

COUNTY CLERK’S JUBILEE MR J. J. WOODS HONOURED. 

PRESENTATION AT LAWRENCE.   (excerpt)

Ladies and gentlemen, it is my privilege to ask you to charge your glasses and honour the toast "Mr J. J. Woods."

MR WOODS’S REPLY. 

Mr Woods, in rising to reply, was received with hearty applause. He said: As you can well imagine my sentiments tonight, and particularly at this moment, are better felt than expressed. I feel like the worn and weary traveller returning home after an arduous pilgrimage of 50 long years, while the ‘‘shades of night are falling fast around,” thinking in my heart of the many departed councillors under whom I had the honour of serving as their confidential officer, and ‘‘lest we forget" I should like to pay a special tribute to one of our departed councillors. Lieut.-Col. George Hepburn Stewart, who made the supreme sacrifice for King and Country, and for you and for me. "Greater love than this no man hath — that he lay down his life for his friends.” "Life every man holds dear, but the brave man holds honour far more precious — dearer than life.” To me he was a guide, philosopher, and friend, and one of my dearest possession is a framed port rail of my esteemed and very dear friend, presented to me by his family with an inscription on the back thereof which hangs in my office as an inspiration and reminder of the happy days now past.   -Mt Benger Mail, 19/1/1927.

Southern Cemetery, Dunedin