Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Introduction for Oral History Interview with Laurence McEwen

Author: Megan Spencer

This is an interview with Australian World War II veteran Laurence “Laurie“ McEwen. It was conducted by Megan Spencer on behalf of the Virtual War Memorial Australia on the 8th of November 2020 in Wallaroo, South Australia.

The topics covered are the experiences of Laurie McEwen as a corporal in the 3/14 Field Ambulance in Australia and the Pacific South West Area (New Guinea) in World War II, between the 21st of October 1941 – 14th March 1946, being a total of 1,606 days of active service.

Laurie McEwen was born in Gawler, SA on the 6th of October, 1920. He was educated at Gawler Secondary School and studied accountancy thereafter, for his work at Chrysler, later Mitsubishi.

Laurie’s significant postings were in the CMF in Australia (Service Number S39870) and in the 2nd AIF in the South West Pacific Area (Service Number SX30940).

Service medals awarded to Laurie include the 1939-1945 Star; the Pacific Star; the War Medal 1939-1945 and the Australian Service Medal 1939-1945.

Having turned 100 years of age shortly prior to the interview, Laurie’s employment status was (happily) ‘retired’.

Acknowledgements

Special thanks to Laurie McEwen for his time, generosity and the interview. Many thanks to VWMA volunteer Anthony McLean for discovering Laurie and instigating the project; Peter Sims for his kind assistance; Star of the Sea Aged Residential Care, and Glenn Boyce (president) and Wallaroo RSL.

--

Discusses: early life in South Australia, work, marriage, religion, family, enlistment, training, shipping out, RMS Aquitania, 3/14 Field Ambulance, sea travel, air raids, bombing, duties, driving, leave, mateship, morale, camp life, adventure, conscientious objectors, conflict, Koitaki, Rouna Falls, Aitape, ‘New Guinea’, Port Moresby, Kokoda, rations, coming home, family life, resilience, injuries, ‘war stress’, Australian soldiers, faith, MPs, writing home, reflections on war.

Mentions: Christmas 1941, Pearl Harbour, Kawasaki Flying Boat, US soldiers, Japanese prisoners, Warradale, NSW, Qld, Sydney, Northern Territory, CMF, regular army, malaria, children, illness, Battle of the Coral Sea, Wewak, Boston Bombers, Zero fighters, Lockheed Electra, Dakota Transport plane, MV Macdhui, Finschaven, Bomona Mission, end of WW2.