Colonel Evan George Stewart DSO OBE ED
史伊尹上校
(1892–1958)
Architect of St. Paul’s College’s Revival
聖保羅復光之父
Evan Stewart was the eighth principal of St. Paul’s College, serving from 1930 until his death in 1958. He is a younger brother to the Revd Arthur Stewart, the College’s seventh principal.
In 1910, Evan joined his older brother to teach at St. Paul’s before going to Dublin for further studies in 1913. As war broke out, Stewart joined the army, serving from 1915 to 1919, during which he fought on the French front. He returned to Hong Kong in 1920.
Stewart’s military background played an important part in the College’s physical education drive, and he was additionally active in the Hong Kong Volunteer Defence Corps. Upon taking the reins, Evan continued Arthur Stewart’s success in growing the College. Throughout the 1930s, College alumni ran free night schools on campus and in locations across Hong Kong.
The Battle of Hong Kong in December 1941 saw Stewart on the frontlines once again. Together with Pauline teachers and students, they risked their lives in defence, but to no avail. Stewart was imprisoned in a prisoner-of-war camp throughout the Japanese occupation. Upon the liberation of Hong Kong, Stewart had to return to England to treat his sustained injuries. He would not return until 1947.
In Stewart’s absence, St. Paul’s Girls’ College was temporarily merged with St. Paul’s College to form one of Hong Kong’s first co-educational secondary schools. Stewart and Catherine F. Woo became co-principals of the merged college. However, a group of alumni started a campaign to bring back the boys' school. St. Paul’s eventually separated from the co-educational school in 1950 but no longer occupied the Glenealy campus; instead, the College took over the site of St. John’s Hall, opposite the University of Hong Kong.
With help from alumni and pre-war College staff, Stewart’s discipline enabled the College’s rapid rebuilding. The Wong Ming Him Hall was completed in 1953, the College library was restored in 1955, etc.
The Stewart Building, which opened in 1964, pays tribute to the two brothers who have given so much to the college over the past half-century.
Click here for an interview with Evan’s only son, Col Michael Stewart, specially prepared as part of this exhibition.