EWEN Donald

Educated at Oundle School and Birmingham University, B.Sc., M.Sc.

The following information has been researched and transcribed by Jeff Taylor:
Private Donald Ewen Killed
Private Donald Ewen, 14th (London Scottish) Battalion, The London Regiment, (T.F.), was the second son of Thomas Buttwell Ewen, of “Sedgemere”, Knowle, Warwickshire, Engineer, by his wife, Janet, daughter of Abraham Knowles. Donald Ewen was born at Edgbaston, Birmingham, on the 27 June 1887 and was educated at Oundle School, Peterborough, where, after taking an ordinary school course, he passed to the Engineering and Science side, obtaining the higher Certificate of the Oxford and Cambridge Board, and at Birmingham University, where he took a four years’ course in Metallurgy, taking Wiggin and Bowen research Scholarships in 1908-1909. He subsequently took up Research Work at the National Physical Laboratory, Teddington. He joined the London Scottish in 1912. He volunteered for foreign service on the outbreak of war in August 1914; went to France 15 September 1915, and was killed in action near Loos on the night of 13-14 October 1915, while looking for a wounded comrade about 30 yards from the German lines. His Commanding Officer wrote of him in the highest terms, commending his bravery and constant optimism under the most trying conditions which were found under the first winter campaign. “Unmarried.”

December 1915
Memorial Service at Blackwell
A memorial service was held at the Wesleyan Church, Blackwell, on Sunday, on behalf of those who had fallen in the war. As reported last week, Private S.J. Duggins, the second of two sons of Mr and Mrs W. Duggins was killed in action in France on the 19th November, making the fourth serviceman from Blackwell who had fallen. A special form of service appointed by the Wesleyan Methodist Conference was used, the preacher being the Rev. R. E. Overton. The parents and two brothers of the late Private Duggins were present at the ceremony, and much sympathy was felt for them by all present.

A long list of names was then read out, followed by the words, €œFrom this congregation these have gone forth to the war€œ, and then the words, “Some of these have fallen”, ALBERT HALL, NORMAN DUGGINS, DONALD EWEN, and JOHN DUGGINS.

A short address was given, a very appropriate text being chosen, viz., “Greater love hath no man than this, that a may lay down his life for his friends”. The Rev. H. E. Overton spoke briefly of the large number who had given freely for our sakes and laid down their lives for their land. “Love makes martyrs”, he said, “and by their death they point to love’s greater sacrifice”. The organist, Mr A. T. Hookway, played “The Dead March” in Saul, at the conclusion of the service.

Donald Ewen has no known grave, the photograph available shows his name on Loos Memorial.