Corporal John Herbert Stewart

Survivor of WW2

Date of Death:

Biography General Links Ranks Awards Chronology Print

Service Biography

John Herbert Stewart was born at Howick, Quebec, on 23 July 1916 and attended Gualt Institut in Valleyfield where his family moved. A fitter from Valleyfield, he entered military service under the National Resources Mobilization Act and enlisted in the Canadian Army (Active) at Montreal on 10 December 1941. He trained as a fitter and served overseas with Royal Canadian Electrical and Mechanical Engineers organizations, including 2 Canadian Corps Troops Workshop. Stewart rose to the rank of Corporal and served in the United Kingdom and Northwest Europe. On 28 February 1945 he was wounded in action by shell fragments in both legs and the right thigh and underwent 2 operations and a lengthy period of hospitalization and rehabilitation. He later returned to duty and was discharged at Valleyfield on 18 January 1946 on demobilization. 

General Information

Ranks

Conflict Rank Regiment Branch Unit Company Date From Date To
WW2 Corporal Canadian Army (Active) Royal Canadian Electrical and Mechanical Engineers 2 Canadian Corps Troops Workshop
WW2 Acting Corporal Canadian Army (Active) Royal Canadian Electrical and Mechanical Engineers
WW2 Temporary Acting Corporal Canadian Army (Active) Royal Canadian Electrical and Mechanical Engineers
Temporary appointment while serving as fitter.
WW2 Private Canadian Army (Active) Royal Canadian Electrical and Mechanical Engineers 10th Non-Divisional Ordnance Workshop / training organizations

Awards

Conflict Award Action Date of Award Date of Citation Source
WW2 1939-45 Star
WW2 France and Germany Star
WW2 Defence Medal
WW2 Canadian Volunteer Service Medal and Clasp
WW2 War Medal 1939-45
WW2 War Service Badge — General Service Class

Service Chronology

1916-07-23 — Born.
1941-12-09 — NRMA enrolment / prior military service period recorded.
1941-12-10 — Attested for Canadian Army (Active) service as Private.
1942-05-29 — Transferred/posting sequence to 10th Non-Divisional Ordnance Workshop.
1942-06-27 — Struck off strength Canadian Army (Canada) and taken on strength Canadian Army (Overseas).
1942-07-10 — Embarked Canada for overseas service.
1942-07-17 — Disembarked in the United Kingdom.
1942-09-24 — Proceeded to fitter course at Army Technical Training Centre, Gloucester.
1943-02-12 — Appointed Temporary Acting Corporal as Fitter 'C'.
1943-07-21 — Appointed Acting Corporal.
1943-10-15 — Qualified Fitter 'C' on re-test, effective 6 Sep 1943.
1943-12-03 — Relinquished acting appointment and was granted acting appointment with pay; posting/trade sequence continued.
1944-02-05 — Medical admission for skin/boil condition.
1944-04-16 — Confirmed in rank of Corporal.
1944-05-17 — Attached to 2 Canadian Corps Troops Workshop, RCEME.
1944-06-24 — Trade-tested/qualified Fitter 'A', effective 6 Jun 1944.
1944-07-16 — Embarked for Northwest Europe.
1944-07-18 — Disembarked in Northwest Europe.
1944-11-21 — Struck off strength to X-3 List RCEME on admission to hospital.
1944-12-23 — Taken on strength 2 Canadian Corps Troops Workshop from X-3 List.
1945-02-28 — Wounded in action; penetrating shell wounds to both legs/right thigh; admitted to hospital.
1945-03-12 — Admitted to 23 Canadian General Hospital for wound treatment.
1945-04-13 — Transferred to R.W. Convalescent Hospital.
1945-05-17 — Discharged from convalescent hospital to No. 1 Canadian Repatriation Depot.
1945-06-05 — Taken on strength No. 1 Canadian Repatriation Unit as Fitter 'A'.
1945-07-10 — Reverted to substantive rank of Corporal.
1945-07-12 — Attached to 1 Canadian Special Wireless / RCEME parent unit sequence.
1945-08-17 — Granted leave and rehabilitation allowance period.
1945-09-17 — Taken on strength for repatriation / leave processing.
1945-12-17 — Taken on strength District Depot No. 4 from Canadian Army Overseas on repatriation.
1946-01-18 — Discharged on demobilization / return to civil life.

Notes

1916-1994
Fluent in French and English
John Herbert Stewart BIRTH 23 JUL 1916 • Howick, Quebec, Canada DEATH 23 FEB 1994 • Valleyfield, Quebec, Canada
Wife Pearl Calvert 1929-1995
Marriage 25 Aug 1951 • Valleyfield, Quebec, Canada Pearl Calvert 1929–1995
Buried Valleyfield Catholic Cemetery Field of Honour
Request confirmation number EA2026_0172334

Additional Service Notes

Served first under the National Resources Mobilization Act and then in the Canadian Army (Active) from 10 December 1941 to 18 January 1946. Trained as a fitter and served with Royal Canadian Electrical and Mechanical Engineers organizations, including 2 Canadian Corps Troops Workshop. He served overseas in the United Kingdom and Northwest Europe, was promoted to Corporal, and was wounded in action on 28 February 1945 by shell fragments in both legs and the right thigh.
Service in Canada 8 months
Service overseas 42 months
Total Service 50 months

Additional Next of Kin Notes

Mother Florence Stewart of Maden Street, Valleyfield, Quebec, was next of kin throughout the service file. The file records him as single at enlistment and at discharge.

Version: 3 Last modified: 2026-09-19 02:05:03 by: marc