Sir John Stewart Baron Bonkyl

  General Notes:

Sir John Stewart of Bonkyl fought under William Wallace for the freedom of Scotland and took part in the Battle of Stirling in 1297 when the English army was defeated.

Commanded the men of Bute at the Battle of Falkirk.

He bore the brunt of the overwhelming assault of the English army on the field of Falkirk where he was killed and buried. A gravestone still exists bearing this inscription. "Here lies a Scottish hero, Sir John Stewart, who was killed at the Battle of Falkirk, 22nd July 1298."

The English force had over three thousand cavalry and a considerable number of archers. Waiting at Falkirk, William Wallace had gathered only half as many men, mostly armed with spears, backed by a modest cavalry made up predominantly of a number of nobles, led by Sir John Comyn, known as the 'Black Comyn'. When the combat began on 22 July 1298, the Scots used their schiltron formations of spear men in variable squares. Under the ferocity of arrows, then cavalry, the Scots were soon annihilated.The bowmen, commanded by Sir John Stewart, the younger brother of the High Steward, stood their ground and were quickly destroyed. The self-interested noble men on horseback would not come into the combat to support Wallace and their men and instead left the area.

  Noted events in his life were:

• Address: Bunkle Castle, Marygold, The Borders.

John married Margaret de Bonkyl, daughter of Sir Alexander de Bonkyl and Unknown.