MCEWAN, James
| Service Number: | 7036 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | Not yet discovered |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 7th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Not yet discovered |
| Home Town: | Not yet discovered |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Not yet discovered |
| Died: | Haemhorrage, Carlton, Victoria, Australia, 7 May 1924, age not yet discovered |
| Cemetery: |
Fawkner Memorial Park Cemetery, Victoria Roman Catholc, Section H, Grave 1805 |
| Memorials: |
World War 1 Service
| 23 Nov 1916: | Involvement Private, 7036, 7th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '9' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Hororata embarkation_ship_number: A20 public_note: '' | |
|---|---|---|
| 23 Nov 1916: | Embarked Private, 7036, 7th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Hororata, Melbourne |
Help us honour James McEwan's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by Michael Pollock
7036 Private James McEwan of Edenhope and Casterton, Victoria, was aged 22 and had been employed as a labourer prior to his enlistment with the 1st AIF on 6 October 1916. PTE McEWAN was embarked with the 7th Reinforcements for the 7th Battalion AIF, departing Melbourne on 23November 1916 on HMAT ‘Hororata’.
Following his arrival in England on the 29 January 1917 and, after further training, PTE McEWAN was embarked for France, arriving 14 May 1917. After completing the last phase of theatre training at the ‘Bull Ring’ at Etaples, PTE McEWAN proceeded to join the 7th Battalion in the trenches,and was formally taken on strength on 28 May 1917.
PTE McEWAN’s service in the field was continuous through 1917, including during the Third Battle of Ypres and Menin Road, until he was evacuated due to sickness on 11December 1917. PTE McEWAN was admitted into the 3rd Canadian General Hospital at Boulogne, and wasdiagnosed as suffering Pyrexia of Unknown Origin (PUO), an accelerated heart rate.
PTE McEWAN was evacuated from France for return to England on 21 December 1917, and was admitted into the 21st Southern Hospital at Birmingham. PTE McEWANremained in hospital until discharged on 5 January 1918.
Following his recovery, PTE McEWAN entered camp at Hurdcott on 7 January 1918, was then embarked for return to France on 17 April and was officially retaken on strength with 17 Battalion near Ypres on 22 April 1918.
PTE McEWAN’s war service following his return to France was to be continuous, and he was still in the field with his Battalion when the Armistice was declared on 11 November 1918. The 7th Battalion AIF is known to have helped stop the German Spring offensive in Northern France, and later participated in the Allied 100 Days offensive which began at Amiens on 8 August 1918.
As part of demobilisation after the Armistice, PTE McEWANwas granted Leave in England, arriving on 12 February 1919. Following his return from Leave, PTE McEWAN began his repatriation back to Australia, departing from England on 13 July 1919.
PTE McEWAN disembarked at Melbourne on 29 August 1919, and received his official discharge from the 1st AIF on 6 October 1919, for return to civilian life.
Following his death on 7 May 1924, PTE McEWAN was interred at the Fawkner Memorial Park Cemetery, within the Roman Catholic compartment, Section H, in Grave 1805.
Service Medal Entitlements: British War Medal and Victory Medal.
References:
Service History – Compiled by Carl Johnson ([email protected])
WW1 Service Dossier (NAA) - https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/DetailsReports/ItemDetail.aspx?Barcode=1943010&isAv=N
AIF Project - https://aif.adfa.edu.au/showPerson?pid=197202