Robert Alexander Stewart was the youngest son of Robert and Margaret J Stewart. He was born about 1878 in County Derry. H was brought up in Magherafelt. His father was a clothier. Robert became a doctor and served in the Boer War. Early in 1940 Captain Robert Alexander Stewart entered World War Two and served with the South African Medical Corps until he died of illness on 22nd January 1942. He was 64 years old.
Further Information
Robert Alexander Stewart was the youngest son of Robert and Margaret J Stewart. He was born about 1878 in County Derry.
Known family: Robert Stewart, Margaret J Stewart, Robert Alexander Stewart (born about 1878, County Derry), Mary Carolina Stewart (born about 1882), James Stewart.
The 1901 census lists Robert A as age 22, boarding at house 25.1 in Fredrick Street, Belfast. He was a medical student.
The 1901 census and 1911 census list his father and sister living in Market Street, Magherafelt. His father was a clothier.
Dr Robert Stewart served in Boer War. He joined up and went to the Transvaal and acted as Civil Surgeon to the Field Forces until the cessation of hostilities in 1902.
After the Boer War he returned home for a short visit, but went back to Cape Town, where he established an extensive medical practice.
He was married to Alice Stewart. Alice Lawrence was the adopted daughter of Brown Lawrence, a South African magnate, also of Magherafelt extraction.
His brother was Mr James Stewart, a solicitor who lived in Ballymena.
Early in 1940 Captain Robert Alexander Stewart entered World War Two and served with the South African Medical Corps until he became ill.
Captain Robert Alexander Stewart died of illness on 22nd January 1942. He was 64 years old.
From the Mid Ulster Mail dated 31st January 1942:
STEWART – 22nd January 1942, at Cape Town, South Africa, Captain Robert Alexander Stewart, Royal Army Medical Corps (R.A.M.C.), beloved husband of Alice Stewart and youngest son of the late Robert and Margaret J Stewart, Market Square, Magherafelt. Deeply regretted. (By cable)
From the Mid Ulster Mail dated 31st January 1942: Captain R A Stewart, R.A.M.C., Cape Town
The news of the death of Captain Stewart, which was made known by cable from Cape Town, to his sister, Miss Mary C Stewart of Market Square, Magherafelt, on 22nd January, created sincere regret among his many relatives and friends, and heartfelt sympathy with Miss Stewart and his brother, Mr James Stewart, solicitor, of Ballymena. The deceased had just graduated at the Royal University, Dublin, in 1899, at the outbreak of the Boer War. He joined up and went to the Transvaal and acted as Civil Surgeon to the Field Forces until the cessation of hostilities in 1902. He returned home for a short visit, but went back to Cape Town, where he established an extensive practice. Early in 1940 he entered the present war and served with the R.A.M.C. until illness prevented his useful activities and finally put an end to the life of a very clever medical practitioner. His widow is the adopted daughter of the late Mr Brown Lawrence, a South African magnate, also of Magherafelt extraction. Before her marriage to Dr Stewart, she, with her parents, visited Magherafelt, all three being guests of the late Mr John Walsh, of The Hotel. The late Captain Stewart’s only son, Lawrence Robert Stewart, is a Wing Commander in the Royal Air Force. His brother, the later Dr Joseph Stewart, of Ballymena, also acted as surgeon with the Field Forces during the Boer War.
From the Mid Ulster Mail dated 5th September 1942: Magherafelt - New Bomb Sight – Wing Commander Lawrence Robert Stewart (son of Dr Robert Stewart)
A young South African pilot, Wing Commander Lawrence Robert Stewart, now serving in the Royal Air Force, is the first flying officer allowed to handle the new bomb sight. A son of the late Dr Robert Stewart of Cape Town (a Magherafelt man), and a nephew of Miss M C Stewart, Market Street, Magherafelt, Wing Commander Stewart played a vital part in developing and perfecting the first fully automatic type of British bomb sight produced.
Captain Robert Alexander Stewart is listed on Cape Town (Maitland) Cremation Memorial in South Africa.
