French honour soldier

A former member of the Stirling Corp of the Salvation Army was awarded a top French military honour.

L/Cpl W Stewart, Royal Army Medical Corp, son of Michael Stewart, engine driver, Bruce Street, Stirling, received the Croix de Guerre.

After working as a telegraph messenger L/Cpl Stewart became a postman in Stirling but later went to London and trained as an officer with the Salvation Army. He enlisted in the RAMC in October 1914 and went to Salonica, Greece, in June 1916.

In a letter to his mother L/Cpl Stewart explained he received the honour following an incident on March 12 “when we got bombed rather badly”.

Giving no details of his heroic deeds, the lance corporal continued: “This had its sequel on Sunday last when a French general came up from Salonica and decorated two officers, two sisters and three men.

“I had the Croix de Guerre with star pinned on my breast. It’s a pretty little thing and a rattling good souvenir.

“I have been told the medal entitles you to go over France, free use of the railways, etc.”

The 29-year-old was a staunch member of the Salvation Army in Stirling and played the cornet in the band.

His father had been associated with the local corp since it was established 30 years earlier and served as its standard bearer.