A man to die and cry for
DAVID STEWART WAS AN UNLIKELY HERO – BUT HIS BRAVERY EARNED HIM
THE DEVOTION OF HIS MEN, AND HE HELPED DEFINE THE STRONG IMAGE OF HIGHLANDERS ACROSS THE WORLD, BY JAMES IRVINE-ROBERTSON
Short, mild in manner with thick spectacles, David Stewart made an unlikely hero. The younger son of Perthshire laird, he was born in 1772.
Both his grandfathers fought at the Battle of Culloden one was killed and the young man joined the family regiment, the Black Watch.
His fighting career was concentrated in the early phase of the Napoleonic Wars before allied armies regularly faced the French in continental Europe.
The nation needed heroes, particularly land-based heroes, and David was one of a handful that fitted the bill.
He first distinguished himself in 1794 in ruthless irregular combat as part of British expeditionary force, islandhopping in the Caribbean to crush French and Spanish garrisons.
Shortly after returning to Britain, the regiment joined in an invasion against French-held Egypt. On 8th March 1801, 5,000 men were rowed to the beaches under withering enemy fire.
David wanted to be first ashore. To his chagrin he was second, and led his men in a bayonet charge up the dunes clearing the entrenched French.
David by his gallant bearing and knowledge of the capabilities of his countrymen when properly commanded contributed essentially to the brilliant success which almost immediately crowned this daring operation.
The French retreated to Alexandria but sallied forth a fortnight later. In a desperate battle the French were beaten. The Black Watch won one of its greatest battle honours and David was severely wounded but his reputation was made.
He .....
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By James Irvine Robertson
Section : Scottish Heroes
Page number : 36
