Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Born 1879 in Derry, England
Husband of Julia CALDWELL
Of 122 Miller Street, North Unley, SA
Occupation prior to enlistment Farmer
Enlisted 19 April 1915 at Keswick, SA
Served in Egypt
Returned to Australia 18 March 1918 per 'Ulysses'
​Served in WWII S3330
Died 17 April 1966 at Eastwood, SA
Aged 87 years
Resided Eastwood, SA
Buried Cheltenham Cemetery

Ewing Gilfilan Caldwell was a trooper in WW1. He was 35 years of age, 5 feet and 8 and a half inches tall, had brown eyes, and weighed around 65 kilograms. He was born in Derry, Ireland, 1879. His hometown was Unley, South Australia. He was married to Julia Roberta Osborne Caldwell who was his next of kin and he had one son prior to the war.

Before enlisting, Caldwell was a farmer, and he had former Military experience with the South African Constabulary for over 5 years.

Caldwell enlisted on the 19th of April 1915 at Keswick, South Australia. His regimental number was 1182. On enlisting, he trained in Adelaide, which consisted of running, boxing, skipping ropes, medicine balls, and exercising with .303 rifles.

After the men of the 1st Division, AIF, landed in Egypt in December 1914, they were given a period of training around Mena, Egypt, to prepare themselves for active service. The desert training was intense and occupied at least eight hours each day except Sunday. It consisted of drills and manoeuvres in the desert, often in full kit and heavy backpacks, leading to soldiers becoming ill from heatstroke. Caldwell trained for four months, until the division embarked for Gallipoli. 

The 9th Light Horse was involved in the advance that followed the Turkish retreat back across the desert in the Egyptian campaign. By December 1916, this advance had reached the Palestine frontier, and the 9th was involved in the fighting to secure the Turkish outposts of Mahgdaba (23 December) and Rafa (9 January 1917), both of which were captured at bayonet point.

While he was on duty, he developed an aural disease and was hospitalised on 11 July 1917. Later that year on 29th of October, he was diagnosed with appendicitis with required urgent treatment in Cairo. Due to the complications of his surgery, he was evacuated from Egypt on 6th of November 1917.

Caldwell was discharged from the AIF because of a severe illness. He left Suez 15/2/18 and left Cairo 22/2/18. He was officially discharged 2nd April 1918.

Caldwell enlisted for service in WW2 with the service number S3330. After the war he lived in Echunga and together with his wife, they had two sons, Ewing Gilfinan Caldwell and David Thomas Caldwell.  

He died in Eastwood, South Australia, 17 April 1966 at 87 years old. His cemetery is Cheltenham Cemetery, South Australia Rose Bush AB12. He is commemorated on a WW1 Honour Board at Unley Town Hall.

His son, Ewing Gilfinan Caldwell who was born on the 4th of December 1912 and died on the 10th of October 1947. His death place is Port Germein, District Council of Mount Remarkable, South Australia. His cause of death was in a car accident, and he died alongside four others.

His other son David Thomas Caldwell was born on the 26th of December 1920 in Adelaide, South Australia. He also enlisted to fight in WW2 with the service number SX12358.

Bibliography:

https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/H02786 (www.findagrave.com)

https://vwma.org.au/explore/people/84553 (www.findagrave.com)

https://vwma.org.au/explore/units/68 (www.findagrave.com)

https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/ViewImage.aspx?B=3186744 (www.findagrave.com)

https://sahistoryhub.history.sa.gov.au/things/light-horse-memorial/#:~:text=The%209th%20Light%20Horse%20Regiment,Egyptian%20revolt%20in%20March%201919 (www.findagrave.com)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/9th_Light_Horse_Regiment_(Australia)#:~:text=The%20regiment%20comprised%20twenty-five,rifle%20strength%20by%20a%20quarter (www.findagrave.com)

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/201382518/ewing-gilfinan-caldwell (www.findagrave.com)