STEWART

A career soldier, he joined the 37th Foot in November 1863 and would later transfer to the 3rd Dragoon Guards. Six years into his military career, he played cricket at first-class level for Hampshire and the Marylebone Cricket Club. Ten years later, he saw action in South Africa in the Anglo-Zulu War under the command of Major-General Frederick Marshall, and served shortly after the conclusion of that conflict in the actions against Sekhukhune I of the Bapedi. Stewart later saw action in the First Boer War that began in December 1880, and was captured following the Boer victory at Majuba Hill in February 1881. Released the following month, Stewart served in the Anglo-Egyptian War of 1882, where he was instrumental in the capture of both Cairo and the rebel leader Ahmed Urabi; he was highly decorated for his role in the war. After Major-General Charles Gordon became besieged at Khartoum by Sudanese Mahdist forces, Stewart led a column across the desert as part of the Gordon Relief Expedition. After several engagements, Stewart was wounded in action on 19 January 1885. He survived long enough to hear of his promotion to major-general, before succumbing to his wound on 16 February.