Canada. A First War Pair to Captain James Rowland Fawcett Stewart, 177th Infantry Battalion

British War Medal (CAPT. J.R.F. STEWART.); and Victory Medal (CAPT. J.R.F. STEWART.). Naming is officially impressed. Un-mounted, very light contact, near extremely fine.

 

Footnote: James Rowland Fawcett Stewart was born on December 14, 1886 in Collingwood, Simcoe County, Ontario, the son of Elihiu Stewart and Ellen Stewart. He was a resident of Collingwood when he signed his Officers' Declaration Paper as a Lieutenant with the 177th Infantry Battalion "Simcoe Foresters", on March 21, 1916 in Collingwood, at the age of 29, naming his next-of-kin as his mother, Mrs. E. Stewart of Collingwood, stating that he belonged to the 101st Edmonton Fusiliers, that he had four years' previous service with the Cadet Corps and one year with the Edmonton Fusiliers, that his religion was Anglican and that his profession was that of Barrister. His medical examination was conducted on March 30th at Alliston, Ontario. While still in Canada, he was promoted to Captain on August 18, 1916. The 177th Infantry Battalion was raised in Simcoe County, Ontario with mobilization headquarters at Barrie under the authority of G.O. 69, July 15, 1916. The Battalion sailed from Halifax, Nova Scotia aboard the S.S. Metagawa on May 3, 1917, under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel John Bingham McPhee with a strength of 19 officers and 549 other ranks, disembarking in Liverpool, England on the 14th. Captain Stewart was transferred to the 3rd Reserve Battalion and posted to the 1st Central Ontario Regimental Depot on July 13, 1917. He was struck off strength of the 3rd Reserve Battalion on proceeding overseas to the French theatre, on July 13, 1917. Upon arrival in France, Captain Stewart was taken on strength of the Canadian General List and attached to 1st Army Headquarters. Four weeks after arriving in France, he attended 1st Canadian Divisional Headquarters as a Divisional Claims Officer, on August 9, 1917. This was followed nine days later by his proceeding to 1st Army Headquarters as Town Major on August 18th and placement as Town Major at Norrent Fontes on the 19th. Captain Stewart was graded for the purpose of pay as a Staff Lieutenant 1st Class and to be seconded, effective July 13, 1917, the announcement appearing in the Supplement to the London Gazette 30274 of Friday, September 7, 1917, on Friday September 7, 1917, page 9325.

 

He was admitted on October 21, 1918 to No. 12 Stationary Hospital at St. Pol with a case of "Scabies" (not an infection, but an infestation of tiny mites called Sarcoptes scabiei, which set up shop in the outer layers of human skin.As the mites burrow and lay eggs inside the skin, the infestation leads to relentless itching and an angry rash). After four days' treatment, he was discharged from hospital on the 25th. After almost seventeen months in France, he was struck off strength of the Canadian Record List on being transferred to England and posted to the 1st Central Ontario Regimental Depot on January 2, 1919. Captain Stewart ceased to be graded for the purpose of pay as a Staff Lieutenant 1st Class and ceased to be seconded for duty on Lines of Communication, effective January 3, 1919, the announcement appearing in the Second Supplement to the London Gazette 31159 of Friday, January 31, 1919, on Saturday, February 1, 1919, page 1748. He was subsequently posted to Kinmel Park, Rhyl, North Wales for return to Canada, embarking from Liverpool, England aboard the S.S. Carmania on February 1, 1919. Upon arrival in Canada, he was taken on strength at No. 2 District Depot in Toronto, Ontario. Captain James Rowland Fawcett Stewart, 177th Infantry Battalion was struck off strength upon General Demobilization at Toronto, on April 23, 1919, credited with having served in Canada, England and France. During the war, his pay had gone to his sister, Kassie Stewart of Collingwood. For his First World War service, he was awarded the British War Medal and the Victory Medal.