Catalogue description Charles Edward Stewart Collection & related records belonging to Stewart’s family

Diaries, Photographs, Scrapbooks, Correspondence, Records of The Black Watch Comfort Fund, Maps, Army orders, Army reports, Army memos, Press communications, Records relating to memorial service at Crieff Parish Church (1920), Miscellaneous

Catalogue prepared to International Standard of Archival Description (General), 2nd edition.

Stewart, Charles Edward (1868 - 1916) and Stewart, Katherine Maud (nee Mackenzie) (1876-1934)

Open access, by appointment.

Reproduction or publication of records is subject to the written permission of The Black Watch Castle & Museum.

Catalogue available on request

Charles Edward Stewart was born on 27 September 1868 at Boundary Cottage, Hampstead, London. His parents were Charles Stewart (1834-1898), Barrister, and Eliza Jane Copland (1838-1916). Stewart had three brothers, Henry Alexander, Douglas and Basil.
Following time at the Royal Military College, Sandhurst, Stewart was commissioned into the 2nd Battalion, The Black Watch, on 10 April 1889. The following year he was promoted to Lieutenant.
In April 1896 Stewart travelled to South Africa for overseas service. Initially he commanded The Black Watch Section of the Highland Company Mounted Infantry in Matabelaland. During his time in South Africa, he was part of the Pietermaritzburg Amateurs (an amateur theatre group).
On 7 August 1898, Stewart was promoted to Captain. Two months later, he married Katherine Maud Mackenzie on 12 October 1898 in Bradfield, Berkshire. Stewart returned to South Africa serving in the Boer War with the 2nd Battalion, The Black Watch. During this time, he was promoted to Brigade Major and mentioned in dispatches.
Following the Boer War, Stewart returned to Britain and acted as Adjutant to the 6th Volunteer Battalion from 1904 to 1908. He was promoted to Major on 15 January 1908 and took over Commanding Depot in 1910.
At the outbreak of the First World War, Stewart had been serving with the 2nd Battalion in India. On 15 September 1914 he returned to serve as the Commanding Officer for the 1st Battalion, The Black Watch. Stewart was wounded on 11 November 1914 when he was shot in the head at Gheluvelt. For this he was mentioned in dispatches.
On 4 January 1916, Stewart was promoted to Temporary Brigadier General, commanding the 154th Infantry Brigade. During this time, he was killed by a stray shell on 14 September 1916, Houplines, aged 47. Stewart’s body is buried in the City Boujean Military Cemetery, Armentieres, France. He had accumulated 27 years of service.
In memoriam, his wife commissioned an inscribed church bell and plaque at Crieff Parish Church, Perthshire, Scotland.