Lieutenant-Colonel, Royal Artillery, Distinguished Service Order and Military Cross.
Born: July 21st 1908
Died: August 5th 1944
Age at Death: 36
Killed, August 5th 1944
Walter was born in Durban, South Africa, on 21 July 1908 to Walter Philip Heweston, a sea captain, and his wife Violette (née Cornioly), but moved to London at the age of three. When he was ten years old his father died, and his mother married Harold Stewart, originally from Rhodesia, one year later. After three years at the College, where he did well academically, he won a scholarship to the Royal Military Academy, Woolwich, and then joined the Norfolk Yeomanry Anti-Tank Regiment of the Royal Artillery.
In August 1941 he earned the Military Cross, for ‘conspicuous success’ in commanding his anti-tank unit between April and July. The citation read:
In all these actions the troops of ‘D’ Bty [Battery] have fought with conspicuous gallantry and determination and have inflicted severe casualties on enemy tanks and armoured cars, and rendered invaluable support to our own troops.
Only four months later he also earned the Distinguished Service Order, for his conduct during the Battle of Sidi Rezegh in Libya in November of that year. The citation read:
Although under very heavy fire Major Stewart continued to coordinate and direct his A/TK [anti-tank] guns and by his complete disregard for his own safety and his gallant and cheerful bearing inspired his gunners with confidence.
He died on active service on 5 August 1944, two months after the Allies had landed in northern France, and is buried at the Banneville-la-Campagne War Cemetery in Normandy, leaving a widow, Sybil, who was originally from Nairobi in Kenya.