Dudley Stewart-Clark, of West Lothian, was born into a wealthy family on 17th July 1911 and educated at Eton. He learned to fly at the Scottish Flying Club, Renfrew, and was awarded Aero Certificate 11128 on 12th May 1933.
He commenced work with the family firm J&P Coates Ltd., the maker of fine threads and headed their Spanish branch. He was a member of the Royal & Ancient Golf Club. Stewart-Clark joined the RAFVR about May 1939 as an Airman u/t Pilot. Called up on September 1st 1939 he completed his training and was serving with 603 Squadron at Dyce in June 1940.
On July 3rd he shared in the destruction of a Ju88, on the 6th he shared a Do17 and on the 15th and 16th he shared He111s. He was shot down by Hauptmann Bode of II/JG 26 over the Channel off Margate on September 3rd in Spitfire X4185. Stewart-Clark baled out, wounded, and was admitted to Chelmsford Hospital.
Above : out of hospital but still bandaged.
On 21st June 1941 he was shot down in Spitfire Va R7345 and ditched on the Goodwin Sands. He was able to take to his dinghy and before long was resued by an ASR launch.
Stewart-Clark was killed on 19th September 1941, as a Flight Lieutenant with 72 Squadron. His Spitfire Vb W3516 was shot down off the French coast near Gravelines.
He is buried in Pihen-les-Guines Communal Cemetery, France.
Photos and text courtesy of Battle of Britain Monument website
