World War I Victoria Cross Recipient. Born in Liverpool, England, he served as a Lieutenant in the Royal Navy. On June 7, 1917, in the Atlantic Ocean, Lieutenant Stuart was 2nd Officer of the HMS Pargust disguised as a British merchant vessel when it was torpedoed by a German submarine. Ordering abandoned ship, as one of the last life boats was shoving off, the periscope of the submarine was observed close before the port beam. This was exactly what the gun crews left on board had been waiting for when Lieutenant Stuart ordered a volley of fire directed at the U-boat. In an attempt to escape, a final barrage of fire hit the submarine fatally and she sunk. American Destroyers and a British sloop arrived shortly afterwards and the HMS Pargust under direction Lieutenant Stuart was towed back to port. For bravery and devotion to duty, he was awarded the Victoria Cross present by the King at Buckingham Palace on July 23, 1917. He also is a recipient if the US Navy's Navy Cross Medal for the assistance he gave to the US destroyer Cassin when she was torpedoed in October 1917. After the war, he served as a Captain in the British Merchant Navy, Empress of Britain and later was appointed London manager of the company. He died at age 67 at Charing, Kent, England.
World War I Victoria Cross Recipient. Born in Liverpool, England, he served as a Lieutenant in the Royal Navy. On June 7, 1917, in the Atlantic Ocean, Lieutenant Stuart was 2nd Officer of the HMS Pargust disguised as a British merchant vessel when it was torpedoed by a German submarine. Ordering abandoned ship, as one of the last life boats was shoving off, the periscope of the submarine was observed close before the port beam. This was exactly what the gun crews left on board had been waiting for when Lieutenant Stuart ordered a volley of fire directed at the U-boat. In an attempt to escape, a final barrage of fire hit the submarine fatally and she sunk. American Destroyers and a British sloop arrived shortly afterwards and the HMS Pargust under direction Lieutenant Stuart was towed back to port. For bravery and devotion to duty, he was awarded the Victoria Cross present by the King at Buckingham Palace on July 23, 1917. He also is a recipient if the US Navy's Navy Cross Medal for the assistance he gave to the US destroyer Cassin when she was torpedoed in October 1917. After the war, he served as a Captain in the British Merchant Navy, Empress of Britain and later was appointed London manager of the company. He died at age 67 at Charing, Kent, England.
Bio by: John "J-Cat" Griffith
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