The Scottish Military Research Group - Commemorations Project

Mike Morley

I'm almost embarassed to ask this question but I seem to have hit a mental block, or gone up so many sidestreets on the internet that I'm confused.

Private 225203 John Ewing was killed on 19 April 1918 and is commemorated on the Loos Memorial. The Galloway Gazette carried the following on 4 May 1918: Information has been received from one of his companions that Pte John Ewing, third son of Inspector Ewing, Wigtown, was killed by a shell at Givenchy on 18th ult. Previous to the war he was in the employment of Sir W P Beale, Drumlanford. He joined the Scottish Horse, but was afterwards transferred to the Camerons, and he had seen a good deal of fighting on different fronts. He was 23 years of age, and was home on leave just before the New Year.

So here's the daft question - was the action at Givenchy part of the Battle of Lys?

Just to add, John Ewing is on Wigtown War Memorial (though the Roll of Honour site names him "Ewen")

Kenneth Morrison · Posted: Mon May 06, 2013 2:47 pm Post subject:

The Long Long Trail is I think the best initial source http://www.1914-1918.net/1div.htm
The 1st Cameron Highlanders part of the British 1st Division fought at the Battle of the Lys. The LLT has:
Phase: the Battle of Bethune, 18 April 1918

First Army (Horne)
I Corps (Holland)
1st Division, including the second defence of Givenchy.
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Ken

Kenneth Morrison · Posted: Mon May 06, 2013 2:51 pm Post subject:

Medal card of Ewing, John
Corps Regiment No Rank
3rd Scottish Horse 1078 Private
Cameron Highlanders 225203 Private

He joined the Scottish Horse, but was afterwards transferred to the Camerons, and he had seen a good deal of fighting on different fronts.

This might infer that he served with the 3rd Scottish Horse at Gallipoli and in Egypt until the battalion was broken up in October 1916 with men transfered to 26th (Scottish Horse) Machine Gun Corps (Cavalry), to 10th Cameron Highlanders and to others.
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Ken

Kenneth Morrison · Posted: Mon May 06, 2013 3:16 pm Post subject:

Drumlanford is near Barrhill in South Ayrshire and I think John Ewing is listed on the WM there. http://warmemscot.s4.bizhat.com/viewtopic.php?t=4661
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Ken

Mike Morley

Thanks Ken

The fog begins to clear. Apparently he was also with the Lovat Scouts. He also appears on the Wigtown Utd football club roll of honour.

WP Beale was from a Birmingham-based merchant family. The Drumlanford baronetcy was created in 1912 and lapsed when he died in 1922. He was a fellow of the Chemical Society and of the Geological Society.

Mike