PRIVATE Edward (Eddie) William Stewart served his country with distinction, facing not one but two serious injuries during his service, which started when he enlisted on March 8, 1916. He arrived back in Sydney on March 9, 1919.
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'Eddie' left his parents and three sisters behind at the family farm Strathaven, feeling the increased pressure to enlist during a time where the allied forces urgently needed bolstering in the Western Front.
He fit the criteria of what the army wanted - he was 23, a sportsman and excellent marksman, being a well-known member of the Kiama Rifle Club.
When Captain Campbell Carmichael called for volunteers from local rifle clubs, he signed up. His battalion became known as "Carmichael's Riflemen" or "Carmichaels' One Thousand".
They trained at camps at Cootamundra and Rutherford, and embarked at Woolloomooloo with the 2nd Reinforcements 36th Btn on September 4, 1916.
The secrecy surrounding their departure date meant his family weren't there to see him off; only his best friend, George King, was there to wish him luck.
The voyage to England was via Melbourne, Durban and Cape Town with a few shore days at each stop. They finally arrived in Plymouth, England on October 29, 1916.
Along with 976 other ranks, and 36 officers under the command of Lieut Colonel J. W. A. Simpson, Pte Stewart left England on December 20 for the front line trenches at the Nouvel Houplines area of Armentieres.
Under heavy bombardment from the German artillery, Lieut Colonel Simpson was killed.
On January 22 the German artillery attacked and 15 men were killed and 36 (including Pte Stewart) were wounded.
Pte Stewart was hit by shrapnel from a close artillery shell burst. He was taken through three different casualty stations to the British Army hospital in Bailleul.
He was then transferred to the Canadian Army hospital in Boulogne and from there to Southampton where he was bed-ridden for six weeks.
He was then transferred to a convalescent hospital in Dartford.
Pte Stewart eventually returned to France on June 15, straight into the Battle of Messines.
He became involved in some of the most famous battles of the war, including being on the front line at Passchendaele and The Somme.
Pte Stewart was again injured by shrapnel and mustard gas at Ypres and confined to bed for five weeks Not one to give up easily, he rejoined the 36th Btn around April 2, 1918, just before the battle at Villers-Bretonneux and the saving of Amiens.
Eldest son Brian, who still lives in Kiama, said his father never spoke much about the war.
"Dad was a very private man and passed away, aged just 59, on May 7, 1952.
"His war wounds were quite extensive but he never complained. He married my mother, Thelma, late in life and when he passed away I was 12 and Garry 10."
Pte Stewart's story was catalogued in detail by his late son Garry and is available in booklet form at Kiama Library.