Yukon who is who

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Charles James Townshend “Charlie” Stewart (1874 – 1918)
	
Charlie Stewart was born into a wealthy Nova Scotia family. He attended the Royal Military College in Kingston, Ontario and was expelled for gambling in 1894. He worked as an insurance clerk in Halifax while serving as a lieutenant in the 66th Battalion of Infantry (Princess Louise Fusiliers).((Jean Pariseau, “Stewart., Charles James Townshend.” //Dictionary of Canadian Biography,// 2020 website: http://www.biographi.ca/en/bio/stewart_charles_james_townshend_14F.htm))

Charlie joined the North-West Mounted Police (NWMP) in 1896 and was stationed  at Lower Laberge and Tagish in mid-1898. He was granted a one-year leave in December 1901, through his father’s influence, when his father tried to get him sent to the Boer War with the Canadian Mounted Rifles. Charlie instead sailed to England and joined the Imperial Yeomanry for service in South Africa as a transport officer. The NWMP granted him a free discharge in 1902.((Jean Pariseau, “Stewart., Charles James Townshend.” //Dictionary of Canadian Biography,// 2020 website: http://www.biographi.ca/en/bio/stewart_charles_james_townshend_14F.htm))

Stewart went to Halifax in 1904 where he was unsuccessful in getting a commission in the NWMP. He went north again to the Yukon and then drifted through the bars in Calgary and Edmonton, making a living by playing cards. He worked various jobs including on the railway and trapping near Hudson Bay. He arrived in Halifax just before the First World War broke out.((Jean Pariseau, “Stewart., Charles James Townshend.” //Dictionary of Canadian Biography,// 2020 website: http://www.biographi.ca/en/bio/stewart_charles_james_townshend_14F.htm))

Stewart was appointed lieutenant in Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry (PPCLI) in 1914 and sailed to England in October. He was hurt in a tent fire and was unable to accompany his unit to France. He re-joined his unit in January 1915, was shot in the chest and was invalided to England. After recovery he joined his unit in France and was promoted to captain ten days later. He was granted leave and missed the battle of Mount Sorrell where his unit suffered 400 casualties including 19 or 23 officers. He re-joined his unit on June 5th and was involved in its reorganization.((Jean Pariseau, “Stewart., Charles James Townshend.” //Dictionary of Canadian Biography,// 2020 website: http://www.biographi.ca/en/bio/stewart_charles_james_townshend_14F.htm))

Captain Charlie Stewart led an attack at the battle of Flers-Courcelette on September 15th and was awarded the Distinguished Service Order (DSO) for his conspicuous gallantry. In December, he took leave to England and was declared unfit for duty. He sailed to Halifax and visited his sister and spoke of muddle and confusion in the High Command. He was back with his regiment in May 1917 having missed the battle of Vimy Ridge. He was invalided to England in September and after two months he returned to duty. Two months later he was promoted second in command. On 30 March 1918 he was promoted to lieutenant-colonel and appointed commanding officer following Agar Adamson’s resignation. Under Stewart’s leadership, the Princess Patricia Light Infantry took part in battles at Amiens and the Scarpe. The company lost sixty percent of its officer and thirty percent of its men in the last battle. In September the under-strength battalion entered the battle of Cambrai and Stewart was killed by a German shell. The DSO was awarded posthumously. He was also awarded the French Croix de Guerre. He is buried in the Ontario Cemetery near Cambrai, France.((Jean Pariseau, “Stewart., Charles James Townshend.” //Dictionary of Canadian Biography,// 2020 website: http://www.biographi.ca/en/bio/stewart_charles_james_townshend_14F.htm))