Turkish biscuit : Captain J C Stewart, 5 Battalion, AIF

Biscuit punched with 10 central holes. Written in black ink on the front of the biscuit is "Picked up at TUSSUM / on the Canal. / The owner, a Turk was shot and / his haversack was lying / near his grave. / 10/2/15 JCS". Part of the back of the biscuit has been broken off.

Turkish version of the hard tack biscuit picked up by Captain James Campbell Stewart, 5th Battalion, AIF at Tussum on the Suez Canal on 10 February 1915. The owner, a Turkish soldier, was shot and his haversack was lying near his grave.

James Campbell Stewart was born at Port Fairy on 19 January 1884, a bank officer of Elwood, Victoria. Stewart joined the Victorian Scottish Regiment in 1901, where steady promotions saw him commissioned in 1909, promoted to lieutenant in 1911 and appointed adjutant and captain of 52 Infantry in August 1912. It was in this capacity that he enlisted with 5 Battalion, AIF on 17 August 1914 and embarked from Melbourne aboard HMAT Orvieto on 21 October 1914. He landed at Gallipoli on the morning of 25 April 1915 and immediately found himself acting commander; by mid afternoon he had been wounded by shrapnel and was evacuated from the peninsula. The next day he was promoted to major. After recovery in Egypt, he rejoined his battalion on 2 June, remaining with them until the evacuation of the ANZAC Area. For his service on Gallipoli, Stewart was awarded the Distinguished Service Order. With the creation of new AIF units in early 1916, he was chosen to command the newly-formed 57 Battalion (15 Brigade) and a month later was promoted to lieutenant-colonel.

The battalion arrived in France in late June, and on 19 July, participated in the Fromelles attack. Early in 1917 the battalion was in the advance that followed the German retreat to the Hindenburg Line. Stewart was made a Companion of St Michael and St George (CMG) for organising the 5th Division defence of Beaumetz. He was given temporary command of 15 Infantry Brigade for periods during 1916 and 1917.

His connection to 57 Battalion ended on 23 March 1918 when he was appointed brigadier-general commanding 14 Infantry Brigade; he was mentioned in despatches on five occasions during this period. He continued his involvement in the militia after the war, commanding 14 Infantry Brigade until 1921, transferring to the 10th Brigade until 1926 and later the 15th Brigade, until 1934. He was made honorary colonel of 57 Battalion in late January 1929 and commanded the Volunteer Defence Corps from 1942 until 1945. Stewart died in 1947.