William George Drummond Stewart VC

Wikipedia Biographical Summary

"William George Drummond Stewart VC (February 1831 – 19 October 1868) was a Scottish recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.

George (as he was known) Stewart was the son of Captain Sir William Drummond Stewart, 19th Laird of Grantully and 7th Baronet of Murthly, and his wife Maria Christina (née Battersby). He was born in February 1831 in Grandtully, Perthshire...

...Stewart was 26 years old, and a Captain in the 93rd (Sutherland) Highlanders when he was awarded the Victoria Cross for his above actions at Lucknow. He was gazetted on 24 December 1858 and his citation read:

For distinguished personal gallantry at Lucknow, on the 16th November, 1857, in leading an attack upon and capturing two guns, by which the position of the mess house was secured. Elected by the Officers of the Regiment.

William Stewart was promoted Major but left the Army in 1860. On 19 October 1868, while at Hythe, Hampshire, Stewart was giving a demonstration of sword swallowing. His trick went fatally wrong and he died from internal injuries a week later, on 26 October. William Stewart predeceased his father."

SOURCE: Wikipedia contributors, 'William George Drummond Stewart', Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, 31 August 2012, 12:55 UTC, <http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=William_George_Drummond_S...> [accessed 18 January 2013]