Bertrand Stewart facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Bertrand Stewart
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| Born | December 1872 38 Eaton Place London, England |
| Died | 12 September 1914 (aged 41) Near the River Vesle Battle of the Marne |
| Buried |
Braisne Communal Cemetery A3
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| Allegiance | United Kingdom |
| Rank | Captain |
| Commands held | Queen's Own West Kent Yeomanry |
| Battles/wars | |
| Awards | Queen's South Africa Medal |
| Spouse(s) | Amy Daphne, daughter of Lt.-Colonel George Kendall Priaulx |
| Other work | Spy, solicitor |
Bertrand Stewart (born December 1872 – died 12 September 1914) was a British man who worked as a lawyer in London. He was also a soldier in a special army unit called the Queen's Own West Kent Yeomanry. He fought in two big wars: the Second Boer War and the First World War. Between these wars, he secretly gathered information about German ships.
Bertrand Stewart was famously caught in Germany in 1911 and sent to prison. But he and another British spy, Captain Trench, were later set free by the German Emperor. This happened as a special gift when the Emperor's daughter got married. Bertrand Stewart died fighting in a major battle called the Battle of the Marne during World War I.
Growing Up and Becoming a Lawyer
Bertrand Stewart went to a famous school called Eton College. After that, he studied at Oxford University. In 1897, he became a lawyer and joined a law firm in London.
Soldier and Spy
When the Second Boer War began, Bertrand Stewart joined the West Kent army unit. He fought in different parts of South Africa. In 1906, he became an officer in the Queen's Own West Kent Yeomanry.
In 1911, Stewart decided to become a spy. He pretended to be a tourist while trying to gather secret information in Germany. He was caught after getting a secret code book from a German agent who was actually working against him. Stewart was the only one arrested in Bremen, Germany. He was trying to find out about the defenses of some islands and a river mouth.
Stewart was put on trial in Germany in January 1912. After four days, he was found guilty and sentenced to three-and-a-half years in a prison called Glatz Fortress.
Bertrand Stewart and another British spy, Captain Trench, were later set free by the German Emperor Wilhelm II. This was a special gift for Ernest Augustus, the Duke of Brunswick, when he married the Emperor's daughter, Princess Victoria Louise of Prussia, in May 1913. Stewart was not happy about being caught. He even tried to sue the British government, saying his health was harmed.
When the First World War started, Stewart quickly got a job in the Intelligence Department, working for Major General Allenby. During the Battle of the Marne, his unit was facing strong German attacks. Stewart bravely grabbed a rifle and went to help the soldiers on the front lines. He was found dead near the River Vesle.
