This is one of a series of posts to mark the international Rugby players who died during The Great War. If anyone has further information on the men concerned, I’d be most grateful if it could be added to the thread. Gareth Stewart, Albert Lewis DSO played for Ireland Internationals: 3 : 1913 W- (1t) F+ ; 1914 F+ Albert Stewart was born on 19 February 1889, Belfast, son of James Stewart (solicitor) and Mrs Stewart. Played as a Centre for: Royal Belfast Academical Institute, Northern Ireland Football Club, Ulster Profession: Chartered accountant Remarks: Ulster v South Africa 1912. War service: Major, Royal Irish Rifles – attached Machine Gun Corps (Infantry); Mentioned in Despatches. DSO Gazetted 28 December 1917. He was killed in action on 4 October 1917, at Ypres, and is buried in Hooge Crater Cemetery, Ieper, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium [Grave VII. E. 14.].
He was a Merchantile Clerk in 1911 ! House number 43 in Eglantine Avenue (Windsor Ward, Antrim) Stewart James 70 Male Stewart Isabella 60 Female Stewart Mabel Wilson 27 Female Stewart Lilian McDowell 25 Female Stewart Albert Lewis 22 Male http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/reels/nai001491893/
Major Albert Lewis Stewart DSO - died 4/10/1917 22nd Machine Gun Corps Albert was born on 19th February 1889, the son of Mr and Mrs James Stewart (solicitor) of 43 Eglantine Avenue, Belfast, later of 101 Wellesley Avenue, Belfast. He applied for a commission on 24th September 1914, having been a member of the Ulster Volunteer Force. He was one of 8 Irish Rugby internationals to die in the Great War. He was killed in action on 4th October 1917, aged 28, in the course of the Battle of Broodseinde (3rd Ypres). Amongst his effects when he died was a Nicaraguan 10 cent note. Albert is buried in Hooge Crater Cemetery (ref VII E 14), Flanders, Belgium
In Memory of Major ALBERT LEWIS STEWART D S O 22nd Bn., Machine Gun Corps (Infantry) who died age 28 on 04 October 1917 Son of Mrs Stewart of 101 Wellesley Avenue, Belfast; and the late James Stewart (Solicitor). Remembered with honour HOOGE CRATER CEMETERY
Thanks for the additional information and the photo. I wonder where the Nicaraguan note came from. Gareth
