Steuart A J Sergt 43209 Royal Canadian Engineers
STEUART, ALAN JOHN, Sergt., No. 43209, Royal Canadian Engineers, 3rd Field Coy., Canadian Expeditionary Force, 5th s. of the late Capt. Robert Steuart, of Westwood, Linlithgowshire, H.E.I.C.S., J.P., D.L. (died March, 1913), by his wife, Alice Mary (Westwood, West Calder), dau. of Patrick W. V. Dudgeon, and grandson of Robert Steuart, of Carfin and Westwood; b. Westwood House, co. Linlithgow, 6 May, 1888; educ. Blairlodge School, Stirling, and Bromsgrove, co. Worcester; was an Electrical Engineer; went to British Columbia in 1912, and settled at Vancouver, but on the outbreak of war in Aug. 1914 at once enlisted in the Canadian Engineers, was promoted L.-Corpl. in Nov. 1914, and Sergt. in Jan. 1915; came over with the first contingent in Oct.; went to France in Feb. 1915, and was killed in action at Vlamertinghe, 24 April following, during the gas attack by the Germans at the second Battle of Ypres, when the Canadian Engineers (who were in the 3rd Infantry Brigade, establishing contact with the Allies, at the terminus to the north-west of Ypres) were ordered forward to dig protection trenches in front of the oncoming enemy; unm. Buried in Vlamertinghe Cemetery. His commanding officer wrote: “He was a very keen, good soldier, of untiring effort and unfailing cheerfulness. the officers.” As popular with the men as with the officers.
Source : De Ruvigny’s Roll Of Honour Vol 1