265093 Sgt . James Clark Stewart British Army 6th Btn. Black Watch from:Methven, Perth My Dad, Jummy Stewart enlisted at Perth Scotland on 16th of October 1939.
He was sent to France in 1940 as part of 51st Highland Division. They dug trenches etc and Dad called it the phoney war . They stole chickens and eggs from the French to supplement their rations.
When the Germans broke through in May 1940, Dad and his section fell back to Dunkirk and arrived there about 22nd/23rd of May 1940. Dad said the Scottish soldiers were rounded up and reformed and ordered to form a u shape round Dunkirk. Dad called this a rearguard action.
They defended Dunkirk to allow the ships to evacuate the troops. Dad talked about being at de Panne and then being told to destroy the vehicles and guns and fall back (along the coast to Dunkirk.)
Dad returned to Dunkirk on 30th/31st of May 1940 and eventually got off the beach on 1st/2nd of June.
He described wading out to boats/ships. Being strafed by German planes. He described almost getting onto a ship but being turned back as it was over-full. That ship turned and headed out when a German plane dropped a explosive down the funnel. So he was grateful he was turned back. He eventually got on a small boat and then a ship back to Dover. He slept all the way.
He was then sent to the Isle of Wight to defend it as they expected an invasion.
The next recollection was training on the west coast of Scotland in 1941/42 with Lord Lovatt. Here it was abseiling and climbing onto moored ships.
He was then sent to North Africa in 1943. Dad was a driver and drove officers to Meetings etc. One day Brigadier Beak asked him to have his best uniform on and he wasn’t told in advance where he was going. It transpired it was for Brigadier Beak to meet Winston Churchill visiting troops in North Africa. Dad was able to salute great man.
From North Africa Dad was then sent to Italy and he recalls Vesuvius still erupting as they entered Naples harbour.
Dad fought at Monte Casino which he describes as hand to hand battle. The allies took Monte Casino one night then were forced back the next, which went on and on. He describes snipers waiting for them.
Then Dad was sent to Greece to help the Government fight ELAS who were communists.
He did not recall VE Day. He doesn’t think they celebrated it as they were still fighting.
Eventually they boarded trains that took them through war torn Europe to get back to England. In January 1946 Dad was demobbed at Catterick Camp, Yorkshire. He was given a 3 piece suit and either £5 or £10 plus ration book.
In later life Dad attempted to see his book in Name of Gold in Paris which marks Dunkirk veterans. He didn't see it as it was July and all museums were closed.
We took Dad to Dunkirk on a family holiday to see the beaches and Le (De) Panne.
He took part in a Black Watch march in Perth to commemorate 50 years since El Alemein.
At his funeral in 2010 the Black Bear was played.
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