PROFESSOR H. STEWART

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21919, 1 October 1934, Page 8

PROFESSOR H. STEWART

New Zealand will receive with the deepest regret the announcement of the death at sea of Professor Hugh Stewart, formerly professor of classics at Canterbury University College, and one of the most distinguished officers oE the New Zealand Expeditionary Force. After a brilliant career as a student he came to New Zealand in 1913 and left to take up a post at Leeds University in 1926. Of those 13 years, four were spent on active service; but short though the time of his association with the Dominion was, he cut a wide swathe, and will live in the memory of all who came in contact with him. He was a man of outstanding personality, and possessed those attributes of character which won the devotion of students and soldiers. When the call of duty came he enlisted immediately, as a subaltern served on Gallipoli, and in a remarkably short space of time was given the command of a battalion, which he led in many hard actions. He was wounded several times. The quality of his leadership received recognition in the honours conferred upon him. When th.e war was over he returned to his academic task, but devoted much of his spare time to the interests of returned soldiers. Death, which so often he looked in the face, has claimed hi:m at the age of 50 years, but they have been full years that are commemorated by a wonderful record of accomplishment. Whatever he did he did with all his might. The spirit of service was always active in him. Hu never sought prominence, but could not avoid it. His life was an example. As scholar and patriot he held high the torch, a torch which death will not extinguish.