67 Capron Street

Warrant Officer Neil McIntyre Stewart

Neil Stewart lived with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Neil Stewart, along with six other brothers and four sisters, at 67 Capron Street in Paris. Neil was born in Compeer, Alberta and came to Paris as a young child with his parents and went to Paris public school and to Paris High School. Following graduation, he worked for a time at the Sanderson and Harold Company Ltd.

Neil Stewart

Neil was popular among the younger people of Paris. He was skilled in hockey and, especially, in golf. He enlisted with the Royal Canadian Air Force at the age of 18 in May 1942. After he completed his training in Mont Jolie, Quebec and was shipped out to England in March 1943. While there, he took every opportunity to enjoy the golf courses there. He captured the camp gold trophy as a result of his skill.

Warrant Officer Neil McIntyre Stewart lost his life in a flight over Holland in February, 1944. He was an air gunner on a Halifax II JD 271 bomber. The plane was one of a massive contingent of 822 aircraft heading to a bombing run over Leipzig, Germany. On the night of his death, there were very heavy ice conditions, and his plane was either shot down or crashed due to the icy conditions. It plunged into the Ijsselmeer, a bay off the coast of North Holland. All seven men aboard were killed in the crash. Neil was 20 years of age.

Two months later, 13-year-old Tamme Schenk, who lived in Andijk, was walking along the sea dyke and discovered the body of an airman who turned out to be Neil Stewart. The Germans buried Neil’s body, but it was later moved to its final resting place.

Neil Stewart's Headstone

(Some of this information can be found in the Canadian Virtual War Memorial created by Veterans Affairs Canada)

Stewart Brothers: