EUGENE STUART

Laid to rest at the Field of Honour

Image courtesy of Andy

Born: 17th May 1883, Ballinagh, County Cavan, Ireland.

Died: 10th December 1915; age 31; Died of Wounds – Gun Shot Wound to the neck and Septic Broncho – Pneumonia at the East Suffolk Hospital, Ipswich – Mason Ward.

Residence: Ballinagh, County Cavan, Ireland.

Enlistment date: August 1914 – Irish Guards, 1st Battalion.

Date of Entry Therein: 25th May 1915 – Le Harve, France.

Service:

13th August 1914, at Aldershot, 4th Guards Brigade, 2nd Division.

20th August 1915 – transferred to the 1st Guards Brigade, Guards Division.

Rank: Private; Service Number: 6092.

Regiment: Irish Guards, 1st Battalion.

Medals Awarded: Victory, British War & 1915 Star.

The funeral service was held with full military honours on Wednesday, 15th December 1915, conducted by the Reverend Father Gillett, Roman Catholic Chaplain to the Forces.

Grave Reference:

BA.I.34.

Ipswich Old Cemetery,

Ipswich.

CENSUS

1901   Ballinagh, County Caven, Ireland.

Eugene was 17 years old and living with his parents, siblings & nephew.

John Stuart, 56, an Egg Merchant, born County Cavan.

Bridget Stuart (nee Maloney), 50, born County Cavan.

Rose Anne Stuart, 23, born County Cavan.

Robert Stuart, 11, born County Cavan.

Joseph Ward, 5, born County Cavan.

The Stuart family could all read & write and were Catholic.

Eugene’s father, John Stuart died May 1904, in Ballinagh, County Cavan; his mother, Bridget Stuart died January 1910, in Ballinagh, County Cavan.

Soldiers’ Effects to Rose Stuart – sister, an Egg Merchant.

A family note: Andy writes that his grandfather, Dr. James Stuart, on learning Eugene was injured at the Front, travelled to England to be with Eugene. Unfortunately, he was not able to get there in time.

East Anglian Daily Times – Friday, 17^th December 1915 – MILITARY FUNERAL AT IPSWICH – On Wednesday, 15^th December 1915, the remains of Private Eugene Stuart, of the 1^st Irish Guards, who died at the East Suffolk and Ipswich Hospital from wounds received in France, were laid to rest in the Field of Honour in Ipswich Cemetery. The coffin, covered with the Union Jack, was conveyed to the Cemetery on a gun carriage drawn by six black horses, supplied by the R.F.A., in charge of Sergeant C. Bowman. The firing party, bearers, and buglers of the 2/5th City of London Rifles (London Rifle Brigade) also attended. The service at the Cemetery was conducted by the Reverend Father Gillett, Roman Catholic Chaplain to the Forces, after which three volleys were fired and the buglers sounded the “Last Post.” The coffin, of polished elm, with black fittings, bore the following: – “Private E. Stuart, died December 10^th, 1915, aged 30 years.” The following N.C.O.s and men, inmates of the Mason Ward, attended to show their last mark of respect: – Sergeant-Major G.R. Edward, Private J. McCabe (Scottish Rifles), Sergeant J. Lloyd (16^th Lancers), Sergeant G. Ledger (24^th London), Lance-Corporal E. Rustine (Rifle Brigade), Privates R. Barton and C. Lawson (R.F.A.), Privates S. Clark (Grenadier Guards), R. Sergent (Irish Guards), D. Butler (Durham Light Infantry), H. Leftly (Royal Fusiliers), and R. Mack (22^nd Remount). The funeral arrangements were carried out by Messrs. Hastings and Son, of St. Matthew’s, under the supervision of Mr. P. Hastings.