MCEWIN, Joan Emily
| Service Numbers: | SFX14793, SX14793 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 9 October 1941, Wayville, SA |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | Australian Army Nursing Service WW2 (<1943) |
| Born: | Houghton, South Australia, 18 November 1912 |
| Home Town: | Houghton, Adelaide Hills, South Australia |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Nursing sister |
| Died: | Illness - Meningitis, Egypt, 22 November 1941, aged 29 years |
| Cemetery: |
Suez War Memorial Cemetery 1 D 12 |
| Memorials: | Adelaide WW2 Wall of Remembrance, Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Daw Park Repatriation Hospital WW2 Women of the Armed Forces Who Died HR, Houghton War Memorial, St Marys SA Army Nursing Sisters/Women Memorial Wall |
World War 2 Service
| 3 Sep 1939: | Involvement SFX14793 | |
|---|---|---|
| 9 Oct 1941: | Involvement Private, SX14793 | |
| 9 Oct 1941: | Enlisted Wayville, SA | |
| 9 Oct 1941: | Enlisted Australian Military Forces (WW2) , Private, SX14793, Australian Army Nursing Service WW2 (<1943) | |
| Date unknown: | Involvement |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by VWM Australia
Daughter of Roy and Helen Parkyn McEWIN, "Glen Ewin", Lower Hermitage, Houghton, SA.
Joan Emily McEwin SX14793, a member of the Voluntary Aid Detachment (VAD) from the Second World War. In 1941 McEwin followed her older brother Gordon into the army and trained to join the VAD. Soon after enlistment she sailed to the Middle East with the VADs attached to the 2/9th Australian General Hospital. McEwin was only in the Middle East for a few weeks before she contracted Cerebro Spinal Meningitis. On 23 November 1941 McEwin died at Port Suez and was buried at the Port Suez Military Cemetery.
During her working life prior to the war McEwin was devoted to the welfare of the children of poorer members of her local community and supervisor of the Kindergarten at the Houghton Congregational Church. A marble plaque was erected in the grounds of the Houghton Congregational Church in recognition of her contribution to the welfare of her local community.
The death of Miss Joan McEwin, 30, daughter of Mr and Mrs Roy McEwin, of Glen Ewin, Houghton, occurred on November 22, while she was serving abroad with the V.A.D's. Her mother was formerly Miss Helen Trescowthick, Angaston.
Death of First V. A.D. Overseas; Miss J. McEwin; Mother Was Angaston Woman
Angaston district joins in the deep regret felt at the death of Miss Joan McEwin, 30, daughter of Mr and Mrs Roy McEwin, of Glen Ewin, Houghton. Her death occurred on November 22, while she was serving abroad with the V.A.D's. Her mother was formerly Miss Helen Trescowthick, Angaston. Joan, who was a girl of sterling character, has two brothers also serving.
She volunteered for overseas duty so soon as the call was made, and was in the first S-A. V.A.D.'s to go abroad; her death being notified as the first V. A.D. casualty. She was previously superintendent of Houghton Congregational Kindergarten, and as a member of the V.A.D. had served at Woodside and Wayville camps, and at the Adelaide Hospital, assisting with blood transfusions and the A.I.F. blood bank.
An hour and a half after her parents received notification of her death, a cable came to hand advising them of her safe arrival overseas.
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