Complex sentence: He spent a period as the District Commander for Stirling, the home of the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, before retirement on the 13 April 1947 He was a substantive Colonel on retirement, but was awarded the Honorary rank of Brigadier.
Split into simpler sentences: He spent a period of time as the District Commander for Stirling, the home of the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders. Stewart was a substantive Colonel on retirement but was awarded the Honorary rank of Brigadier.