Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Ewan Murray Robson (7 March 1906 – 26 August 1974) 
-Born in Sydney and educated at Newington College from 1918 - 1923. He then studied at the University of Sydney, where he achieved degrees in arts in 1927 and law in 1930, he also rowed in the 1925 Sydney University Rowing VIII.
-He was born in Ashfield Sydney NSW on 7 March 1906, the second son of long-serving NSW politician William Elliott Veitch Robson and Mabel Jackson Wise. He was admitted as a solicitor on 4 June 1930 and practiced with his father at Robson & Cowlishaw. He married Lesley Alison Martin in 1931 at St Stephen's Presbyterian Church, Sydney, and had two sons (Murray and Campbell). With the United Australia Party (UAP) MP,  he stood as an Independent UAP candidate at the resulting by-election in Foster's vacated Legislative Assembly seat of Vaucluse. At the by-election on 29 August 1936, he emerged successful, with 62.63% of the vote, becoming the third generation of his family to serve in the NSW Parliament.

Soon after his election, he joined the UAP but soon joined a group of government backbenchers who were unhappy with the Bertram Stevens government's economic management and the party's control over preselection, becoming prominent in the struggle that led to the resignation of Premier Stevens and his replacement by Alexander Mair in August 1939. On the 4 March 1938 election, he retained his seat uncontested.
- He was the 18th Leader of the Opposition NSW from 17 August 1954 – 20 September 1955.
- After working several years as a solicitor, he stood for and was elected to, parliament on 29 August 1936 at a by-election for the seat of Vaucluse. He served many years on the back benches.

Military Career

-He enlisted in the army, on the 29th of September 1939 as a Lieutenant (NX349) in the Militia (army reserve).
-On 25 December, he was granted a leave of absence from the NSW Parliament, with his father dealing with his affairs, and enlisted in the 2nd Australian Imperial Force (2nd AIF) on 29 December. Embarking for Scotland with the 2nd/5th Field Regiment, Royal Australian Artillery (RAA), in May 1940, he disembarked at Gourock, Scotland, on 18 June 1940.
-Transferring to the 2nd/31st Infantry Battalion in the 7th Division and was trained in the AIF School. On 3 March 1941, he left Britain, arriving in the Middle East on 9 March. On 9 May 1941, he was appointed to the rank of Captain.
-In June 1941, he received a shrapnel wound to the foot while fighting in Syria. Attached to the Middle East Tactical School, he re-joined his unit in February 1942 and served with distinction in North Africa, being promoted to Major on 8 October 1942. On 3 December 1942, he departed North Africa with his unit, disembarking at Brisbane, on 8 January 1943.
-On 11 June 1943, he was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel and given command of the 2/31st Infantry Battalion.
-In August 1943, he sailed with his unit to New Guinea where he suffered bouts of malaria. he was Mentioned In Dispatches three times.
-On 6 March 1945 he was awarded the Distinguished Service Order (DSO), on a recommendation by his Commanding Officer, Major General George Alan Vasy DSO CBE Mentioned in Dispatches (MID) (Commander of the 7th Division, his unit is under his command).

DSO Citation

Government House, Canberra. 27th April, 1944.

The KING has been graciously pleased to approve that the following be Mentioned in recognition of gallant and distinguished services in the South-West Pacific: — LT COL E. M. Robson (NX 349).

‘For courage, coolness, determination, and resourceful leadership in the field. Throughout the New Guinea Campaign LT Col Robson was outstanding in his leadership. His efficient handling of his command down Markham Valley to Lae, when his battalion carried out a major outflanking movement, was largely responsible for the rapid overpowering and destruction of the enemy. During the four months of the campaign, he continually made his early recess and was constantly among his most forward troops. By his actions, he inspired complete confidence in all under his command.’

In July 1945 he led his unit in the invasion of Balikpapan, Borneo, and in September accepted the surrender of Japanese forces under Major General Michio Uno at Bandjermasin in the Dutch East Indies.
-Relinquishing command, he returned to Sydney and was placed on the Reserve of Officers in November before being discharged on 21 November 1945.

Post War Career

- He was a member of his Army unit after the war.
-Upon demobilisation, he returned to his political career. His long absence during his war service had put pressure on his marriage and ended when his wife divorced him in 1947. He remarried soon after to Naomi Priscilla Gee. 
-She was a Voluntary Aid Detachment (VAD) member. 
- He continued where he left off before the war up until 1956, however, he did not stay long afterward; on 26 July 1957, he resigned his seat, and returned to his legal practice until he retired.
- He was appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the 1966 New Year Honours. On 26 August 1974, he died of a heart attack at his Rose Bay, Sydney home and was cremated. He is survived by his second wife and both his sons.