Current Information:

Age-30

16H, Whitecross Place, Finsbury

On 14th December 1st Gordon Highlanders and 2nd Royal Scots, both of 8 Brigade, 3rd Division, attacked Wytschaete with very little artillery preparation.  They met heavy rifle and machine gun fire and uncut wire. 1st Gordon Highlanders got to within 50 yards of the German line and 2nd Royal Scots managed to enter the German trench capturing 2 machine guns and 42 men.  Here they remained until dark when they were relieved by the supporting battalions 2nd Suffolk and 4th Middlesex.  In this position on the next day, 15th  December,  4th Middlesex were heavily shelled and had 7 men killed and 11 wounded. John Steward was one of those killed.