McEWAN, David

Rifleman David McEwan

Rifleman, 2nd Battalion, Royal Irish Rifles
Service No: 8596
Died: 10/03/1915
Age: 26

Remembered on Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial
Remembered on family memorial in Bangor Cemetery

David McEwan was born on the 18th December 1888 in Cushendun, Co Antrim. He was the son of St.George Glencairn McEwan (known as George), a coastguard, and his wife Ann nee McNeill and was the eldest of their six children. The birth, which was registered by his grandfather David McNeill, recorded the surname as McKeown but this was not picked (probably because his grandfather was illiterate) but a corrected entry was made in December 1899.

The family moved several times as George was posted to various stations. After David's sister Margaret was born in 1890 the family moved to Slieveban in Co Donegal. It was here his brothers George, William and Isaac where born. The family then moved to Helen's Bay where brother Charles was born in 1899. When his father George retired from the Coastguard the family moved to Hardcastle Street in Belfast and it was here George died in 1914.

About 1907 David enlisted in the 2nd Battalion, Royal Irish Rifles. The 2nd Battalion had been stationed in Ireland but in 1906 had moved to Aldershot before moving to Dover in 1909. It was in the Citadel Barracks there that David is recorded in the 1911 census as having attained the rank of corporal.

When war broke out the 2nd Battalion, now stationed at Tidworth, were mobilised leaving there on the 13th August and disembarking at Rouen the following day. They moved forward and were involved in the battle of Mons on 23rd August.

David may have missed this engagement, however, as his Medal Index Card records the date on entering the theatre of war as the 26th August, but would have been involved in the first Battle of Ypres and La Bassée after which the battalion had been reduced to 40 men.

In March 1915, the 1st Battalion took part in the Battle of Neuve Chapelle, an attempt to seize Aubers Ridge, attacking over the same ground where the 2nd Battalion had been virtually wiped out at the Battle of La Bassée the previous October. In their ranks were veterans of Mons, redrafted from the 2nd Battalion on recovery from wounds, etc. One of those men was David McEwan.

The Northern Whig of 2nd April 1915, reported: "Details of the losses sustained by the 1st Battalion Royal Irish Rifles at Neuve Chapelle, on the 10th ult., and subsequent days, continue to be received in Belfast... Rifleman David M'Ewan, killed in action, was a son of Mrs A. M'Ewan, 34, Hardcastle Street, Belfast. He was 26 years of age, and was serving at the front since November last."

Portrait image courtesy of Nigel Henderson, Great War Ulster Newspaper Clippings