Edmund “Ted” Stewart was born in Stanthorpe on 17 November 1878, the son of William and Bridget Stewart, both born in Ireland. Ted grew up in Stanthorpe and attended St Joseph’s School, probably in the late half of the 1880’s and early 1890s, before working as a labourer and miner. Ted had two older siblings, Angela and William, and six younger siblings, Emily, Thomas, Theresa, Cicelia, Catherine and Flora, all who more than likely attended St Joseph’s School.

Ted enlisted in the AIF (Australian Imperial Force), aged 36, in Lismore on 3 March 1915 and became an original member of the 25th Battalion. He joined “C” Company and was given the service number 744. Ted departed Brisbane on 29 June 1915 and after a period of training in Egypt joined the battle at Gallipoli, landing with the 25th Battalion at Anzac Cove on 11 September 1915. The battalion fought in the line at Lower Cheshire Ridge and the Apex until evacuated on 18 December 1915.

Ted then transferred to the 2nd Pioneer Battalion on 14 March 1916 and left Egypt for the fighting on the Western Front.

Unfortunately, on 3 May 1916, while in a billet at Armentieres, France, Ted fell on a box and fractured his lower jaw. While recovering in England, it was recommended Ted should return to Australia for six months as he was deemed unfit for general service but fit for home service. Ted arrived back in Australia on 29 September 1916 and was admitted to the Base Hospital Brisbane.

After being declared fit to return to duty, he was discharged from the Army on 23 October 1916. However, he immediately signed up again and joined the 7th Reinforcements of the 4th Pioneer Battalion. His service number was now 3194.

Ted returned to England in January 1917 for training, and between July and September he transferred to the 52nd Battalion.

On 17 September 1917, Ted proceeded to Belgium, joining with the 4th Pioneers in the front line in the Ypres Salient. The 4th Pioneers were tasked with the risky job of laying communication cables and building and repairing roads.

In December 1917, the battalion moved near Peronne, on the Somme, where it provided working parties under the harshest winter conditions.

In the New Year of 1918, the battalion moved back north to Godezonne Farm, southwest of Ypres. Here the battalion stayed until late March when it was ordered to move to the support lines at Henencourt Wood near Albert, France on the Somme.

On 2 April 1918 a party of 90, including Ted (then probably an acting Lance Corporal) was tasked to proceed to the vicinity of Dernacourt and Buire to drive tunnels through the railway embankment for machine gun positions on the front-line system. When the enemy attack on 5 April 1918 these men reported to the 47th and 52nd Battalions and assisted the infantry to hold the line, all doing exceptionally good work. Half of them became casualties, including Ted.

Ted was reported missing on 7 April 1918. A court of inquiry held on 27 September 1918 determined Ted had been killed in action on 6 April 1918.

He was 39 years of age.

The statement below provides some detail surrounding his death.

Private William Nichols of the 4th Pioneer Battalion stated: “I was told … that L/Cpl. Ted Stewart. 4th AI – 1st Sect. was certainly killed, about April 5^th… while they were tunnelling through the railway cutting, on the right of Albert, the Germans came over. L/Cpl. Stewart went up the bank to fire at the enemy. He was shot through the head and killed instantaneously... Description: A Gallipoli man, very quiet, returned to Australia, and then came back again.”

Private Edmund Joseph Stewart is buried in Dernancourt Communal Cemetery, France. Dernancourt is a village 3 kilometres south of Albert, 30 kms west of Amiens and not far from the Australian National Memorial at Villers-Bretonneu.

On the 150^th anniversary of St Joseph’s School we acknowledged Edmund Joseph Stewart’s sacrifice with a plaque on our school war memorial.

Lest We Forget.