Died: 4/08/1916
Age: 22
Remembered on family memorial in Bangor Cemetery
William McEwan was born on the 20th March 1894 in Slieveban, Co Donegal. He was the third son of St.George Glencairn McEwan (known as George), a coastguard, and his wife Ann nee McNeill.
The family had moved several times as George was posted to various stations. The family had been living in Cushendun, Co Antrim when William's two older siblings, David and Margaret, where born before moving to Slieveban. It was here his brothers George and Isaac where also 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.
In 1909, at the age 15, William joined the Royal Navy as a Signal Boy where he served, among other postings, on the Ganges, Impregnable, and King Alfred. William had an exemplary service record and in 1912, at age 18, fully enlisted with the rating of Ordinary Signalman.
Unfortunately, only two years later in 1914, William was dismissed as unfit for service suffering with acute rheumatism.
William did not give up the sea however, and joined the mercantile marine where he served on vessels such as Lord Antrim and Duke of Argyll.
In 1916 William came down with malaria and was being brought home by a White Star liner but only reached Liverpool. The family received a telegram from the White Star Company and his mother and a brother crossed over to Liverpool but William died later that day in the Northern Hospital. His remains were brought home to Bangor and he was interred in Bangor Cemetery on Monday, 7th August.
Although, as a merchant seaman, the circumstances of his death preclude him as being included as a war fatality with the Commonwealth War Graves Commission William is commemorated on the Bangor and District War Memorial and the Royal British Legion (Bangor Branch) Memorial Plaque.
M'EWAN -- August 5, 1916, suddenly, at the Northern Hospital, Liverpool, William Arthur, third and dearly-beloved son of Annie and the late George M'Ewan, R.N., 28 Croft Street, Bangor.
Bangor Man's Death.
The many friends of the family in Bangor learned with deep regret of the sudden death in a Liverpool Hospital or Mr. Wm. A. M'Ewan, son of Mrs. M'Ewan and the late Mr. Geo. M'Ewan, R.N., Croft Street, Bangor. Deceased had been brought home by a White Star liner suffering from malaria fever, but he unfortunately did not survive to reach Bangor. Mrs. M'Ewan and his brother crossed on Friday on receiving the Company's wire, but found him unconscious and sinking rapidly. His remains were interred in the Bangor New Cemetery on Monday, the attendance at the funeral being very large and representative. Rev. J. R. M'Donald, M.A., conducted the funeral service.
(The Spectator, 11 August 1916.)
