Niel Shaw Stewart

Story:
Niel Shaw-Stewart was born on 7th July, 1894 in Belgravia, London, and baptised at St. Pancras Church, Marylebone, London, on 10th July, 1894. He was the son of Walter Richard Shaw-Stewart and Mary Beatrice Sydney Shaw-Stewart (nee Leverson-Lane). At the time of the 1911 Census the family were living at Hays House, Sedgehill, Wiltshire, and Niel was single and a scholar at Eton College from where he went on to University College, Oxford, and obtained a B.A. degree in absentia in 1916. He enlisted in the 3rd Battalion of the Rifle Brigade (The Prince Consort's Own) served in France & Flanders, including Ypres and the Somme. he was wounded at Ypres on 3rd May, 1915, but was able to return in due course to active duty. He was killed in action on 21st August 1916 in Guillemont in France within a few days of his return. At the time of his death he held the rank of Lieutenant. He was awarded the Victory and British War Medals as well as the 1915 Star. He was buried at Delville Wood Cemetery, Longueval, Somme, France (grave id. XIII.N.10). He is remembered on the Memorial Plaque in St. Catherine's Church, Sedgehill. In 1922 his parents were living at Fonthill Abbey, Tisbury, Wiltshire. They commissioned a separate memorial to their son which is in the form of a stone cross on the A350 which was restored by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission for the centenary commemorations in 2014. His name also appears on the De Ruvigny's Roll of Honour and in many newspaper reports at the time.