STEWART, Robert Ian Orde

NAME                 STEWART      Robert Ian Orde
RANK                 Captain                                                                                                                                                                       1st Canadian Army - 3rd Canadian Infantry Division - 8th Infantry Brigade                                REGIMENT        Queen's Own Rifles of Canada                                                                                                                                   “in peace prepared”
                           Royal Canadian Infantry Corp.                                                                                            Residence:         Goderich - Ontario                                                                                                                    Birth:                   February 10, 1915 - Toronto - Ontario                                                                                    Died:                   June 4, 1945     30 years   4 months
Cemetery:           Brookwood Military Cemetery - Brookwood - Surrey - England
                           59 B 5
Wife:                   Mrs. Doris Blanche Stewart - Goderich / Meaford - Ontario                                            Daughter:           Miss Mary Stewart - Meaford - Ontario
Parents:              Mr. John and May Stewart – Toronto - Ontario                                                                    Brother:              John serving with the 1st Canadian Army Headquarters with the Canadian Army Overseas. Sister:                 Mrs. Mary Beattie - York Mills - Ontario

Robert was born in Toronto on February 10, 1915. He received his primary education at Howard Public School and then furthered his education with the University of Toronto Schools before attending the University of Toronto. He graduated from the University of Toronto at the age of 21 with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Political Science and Economics. He was employed with Shell Oil Canada from 1936-42. During that period he was Manager of the Cable Department for Overseas Communications, the Office Manager for the Western Ontario Division and the Branch Manager in Goderich. While in Goderich he lived at 103 Elgin Avenue. He enjoyed golf and skiing. Robert enlisted into the Non Permanent Active Militia of Canada on October 17, 1935 with the University of Toronto Unit. During 1940-41 he attended the Canadian Officer Training Centre at the University of Guelph - Ontario through the Ontario Agriculture College. He would have attended St George's Anglican Church in Goderich.

Canada

Robert then enlisted into the Canadian Active Service Force on July 8, 1942 with the 3rd Battalion - Queen's Own Rifles of Canada and Taken on Strength with them at Camp Niagara with the rank of Lieutenant. Upon enlistment he stood 5' 11" and weighed 150 pounds. He had a fair complexion, with brown eyes and hair. On September 28th he then proceeded on "special duty" at Camp Niagara. He was assigned to Vernon - British Columbia between November 18-December 15 to No. 31 Canadian Battle Drill Training Course and completed the Canadian Battle Drill Training Course. He was then posted to Debert - Nova Scotia and on December 19th Lieutenant Stewart was granted 5 days of Christmas leave.                                                                                      Between January 22-February 20, 1943 while at Debert he was sent to No. 14 Canadian Infantry Training Centre in Aldershot - Nova Scotia. He then returned to Debert and on March 25th he was granted furlough and Accumulated Leave between March 25-April 14th. On April 1st he was promoted to the rank of Captain. He was then attached to No. 6 Special Employment Company based in Sussex - New Brunswick. He received leave between April 26-May 7th.

Overseas                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Five days later on May 12th he was Struck Off Service of the Canadian Army in Canada and the same day embarked from Halifax and Canada. The next day while out on the North Atlantic he was Taken on Strength with the Canadian Overseas. On May 22nd he disembarked in the United Kingdom and reported for duty. He was Taken on Service with the Queen's Own Rifles of Canada on August 17th. Then he was posted on October 13th to No. 4 Canadian Infantry Reinforcement Unit. Between November 18-December 2nd he was attached to the 3rd Canadian Sub Park - Royal Canadian Ordnance Corps and then immediately posted to Headquarter of the 3rd Canadian Division with the Royal Canadian Army Service Corps. Again between December 15-29 he is posted to the Headquarters of the 3rd Canadian Infantry Division and while there on December 21st he is attached to the Queen's Own Rifles.

In the Field

As D Day approached Captain Stewart and the Queen's Own Rifles embarked the United Kingdom on June 3, 1944 and landed on the beaches of Juno. He survived between June 6, 1944 June 4, 1945 and would have been present at Le Mesnil-Patry, Caen, Carpiquet, Bourguebus Ridge, Falaise, the Laison, Boulogne, Calais, the Scheldt, Breskens Pocket, the Rhineland and the Waal Flats. The 3rd Canadian Division was then reformed based on the organization of the 3rd Division during the war and became part of the Army of Occupation 1945-46. Captain Stewart was part of the reformed 3rd Canadian Division.                                                                        Captain Stewart was granted leave while in Germany between February 20-March 1st. On March 28th, 1945, Captain Stewart was seriously wounded by friendly fire. He received a wound in his abdomen from a stray bullet. This bullet also exited his back area and there was internal damage. This took place on March 28, 1945 while Captain Stewart was in his tent. While in his tent a volley of shots consisting of automatic and bren gun fire was heard and this lasted 4-5 minutes.
By coincidence, Captain Stewart, a week prior had warned The Irish Guard of stray fire coming from the
wooded area about 400 yards away. In fact, on the day he was wounded, it was the Irish Guards firing their weapons. At the time of him being wounded he was attached to “B” echelon.
He was taken to No. 9 Canadian Field Service Unit and immediately sent to No. 3 Casualty Clearing Station. He is then moved to No. 77 British General Hospital on April 4th based at Bedburg - Germany. On the 10th he embarked from Germany and taken to Stratton St. Margaret's Hospital  and a day later he becomes a patient at the Canadian Red Cross Memorial Hospital - Taplow - Berkshire - England. During his stay at the hospital there were at least 2 operations to try and save his life. He had by now contacted pneumonia and on June 4, 1945 died from his wounds and from pneumonia.                                                                                                              Captain Stewart had been previously mentioned in dispatches.He is honoured and remembered on the Howard Public School WWII Memorial Plaque. He is also remembered and honoured on the University of Toronto School WWII Memorial Plaque. Lastly, he is honoured and remembered on the Memorial Arch at the Soldier's Tower at the University of Toronto. He is honoured and remembered on the Meaford - Ontario Cenotaph. As well he is honoured and remembered on the Canadian Virtual War Memorial.

He was awarded the 1939-45 Star, the France Germany Star, the Defence Medal, the War Medal and the Canadian Volunteer Service Medal + Clasp. 
 

He should also be honoured and remembered on the Goderich - Ontario Cenotaph