1914-15 Star (79551 Pte. R. Stewart, 31/Can:Inf:)

Killed-in-Action: Private Robert Stewart, 31st Battalion (Alberta Regiment) Canadian Infantry (Canadian Expeditionary Force), is confirmed having been Killed-in-Action on the Western Front, 'Boxing Day', 26 December 1915

The life & supreme self-sacrifice of, Private Robert Stewart, is commemorated in perpetuity by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission on a headstone where his mortal remains were interred at the Kemmel Chateau Military Cemetery, located at, West Vlaanderen, Belgium

An early Great War casualty of the 31st 'Alberta's', the Commonwealth War Graves Commission returning 42 x deaths for the battalion in the year 1915, of which only two died on 26 December 1915 (the other was 80025 Private William Forster, who died of wounds received from an enemy 'Sniper Bullet' on 17 December 1915. As of writing we do not know the specific circumstances of how Private Robert Stewart was 'Killed-in-Action on 26 December, but what is certain, is that he was the only member of the regiment to have been killed on that date......

Medal verification: Private Stewart's entitlement to the 1914-15 Star only is indicated in his service papers (the automatic companion British War Medal & Interallied Victory Medals, are not mentioned together with he award of a Memorial Plaque and Memorial Cross to the recipients next of kin ) is confirmed per the recipients extant service papers:

- 1914-15 Star: Campaign medal to be sent to recipients next of kin, his Aunt, Miss Jane Turnbull, 3 Chapel Street, Selkirk, Roxburghshire, Scotland
- British War Medal. Silver: Papers refer to campaign medal(s) to be sent to recipients next of kin, Miss Jane Turnbull, 3 Chapel Street, Selkirk, Roxburghshire, Scotland
- Interallied Victory Medal: Papers refer to medal(s) to be sent to recipients next of kin, his Aunt, Miss Jane Turnbull, 3 Chapel Street, Roxburghshire, Scotland
- Memorial Plaque and Memorial Scroll: Papers refer to plaque and scroll to be sent to the recipients father, James Stewart, Scotland
- Memorial Cross: Papers refer to Memorial Cross to be sent to recipients mother, Mrs Stewart, Scotland

The recipients service papers show that 3 x separate packages were despatched to the recipients 'Next of Kin' in Scotland - to 3 x different persons living at the same address - between 1920 -1922. Whether all of the recipients entitlement was sent, and or actually received by the various next of kin is not known

Robert Stewart, son of James Stewart & Stewart (nee) was a native of, Selkirk, Roxburghshire, Scotland, where he was born on, 26 August 1881. Robert had migrated to Canada sometime after 1908 (his service papers refer to 5 years prior prior service variously with the Volunteer Force / Territorial Force in Scotland). In November 1914, Robert was resident in Alberta, Canada, where he was working as a 'Labourer; when he attested for the Canadian Expeditionary Force, at Wetaskiwin, Alberta, on, 18 November 1914. On the date of his attestation, Robert, who was 33 years of age, was posted to his local infantry battalion that was raised for the Canadian Overseas Expeditionary Force, vis 31st Battalion (Alberta) Canadian Infantry. After completion of his basic training, Robert entrained at Calgary, for overseas service on, 12 May 1915. He arrived at Shorncliffe Station, England, on, 29 May 1915. Robert disembarked with his unit at Boulogne, France, on, 18-19 September 1915

The 31st Battalion (Alberta), CEF: This was an infantry battalion of the Canadian Expeditionary Force during the Great War. The battalion recruited in Alberta and was mobilized at Calgary. The battalion was authorized in November 1914 and embarked for Britain on 17 May 1915. On 18 September 1915 it disembarked in France, where it fought with the 6th Infantry Brigade, 2nd Canadian Division in France and Flanders until the end of the war. The battalion was disbanded in August 1920

The medal retaining & fitted with its original long length of silk 'moire' riband, and as issued

Condition: About EF

Code: 24513