Stewart McVey: The soldier with TWO aliases
One of the many names listed on Le Touret Memorial to the Missing is that of Corporal Stewart McVey. Aged just 18, he was killed on 9 May 1915 at the Battle of Aubers Ridge, whilst serving with the 1st Battalion Black Watch. Unusually, but by no means uniquely he had a pseudonym, the CWGC noting he 'served as' (Stewart) Elder.
But this is not as straightforward as it appears.
Stewart proved to be the first soldier that was located by the WFA volunteers working on Project Alias who had not just one, but two aliases.
Below is the first of the cards that was located showing that Stewart McVey's pension record needed to be located under the name of Elder. So far so straightforward.
However, the card below (note the same regimental number) suggests that Elder 'or Palmer' was Stewart's surname. It does not mention the name McVey apart from the reference to his mother (Mrs McVey or Palmer).
The card below complicates matters further, as it mentions also his brother James (number 9226). James (aged 26) had been killed on 15 September 1914. He is commemorated at La Ferte-Sous-Jouarre Memorial. This suggests that James used both McVey and Palmer as alternative names.
The card below, which bears case number 2454, again references Stewart Palmer and refers to an alias of Elder. But does not mention the name of McVey.
Turning for a moment back to James, we can see from the card below that he used the surname Palmer.
The final card (below) is Stewart's Medal Index Card which makes no mention of any form of alias.
This was just one example of the complications that the team of 'Alias' volunteers found within the WFA's pension records.
See here for an explanation of the McVey / Palmer / Elder brothers various names.
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