John Douglas Ewen - 848967

Douglas Ewen was born on October 16, 1896 in Uxbridge, Ontario to Helen and John Walker Ewan. He attended Uxbridge Public School and Uxbridge High School (now called Uxbridge Secondary School) and lived on nearby Brock Street as his father ran the Oatmill Factory on Elgin Pond, and was on the volunteer Fire Department.

Douglas was working in Toronto as a Telegraph Clerk at the time of his enlistment, April 8, 1916 in Kingston, ON with the Royal Canadian Horse Artillery. He sailed overseas to England on September 23, 1916 aboard the S.S. Lapland, and was drafted to the Reserve Battalion, Canadian Field Artillery upon his arrival at Shorncliffe, UK. In May 1917, Douglas was posted to the 2nd Divisional Artillery Column, and later that month he arrived in France to join the unit in the Arras sector. In June, Douglas transferred to the 27th Battery, 4th Brigade, Canadian Field Artillery as a gunner, with whom he served for the duration of the war; even returning to active service at the front after being wounded twice!

Douglas was nominated by General Currie for a Military Medal which according to details in his digital file, may have been awarded for bravery in the field at Arras or Passchendaele.

Douglas had two siblings also in service: brother Gordon, also with the 27th Battery, 4th Brigade, Canadian Field Artillery, and sister Margaret, who was a Red Cross Nurse. Daughter Shelagh Gledhill (Ewen) tells that her father Douglas was in camp in France when brother Gordon, who had recently joined up, and sister Margaret, a Red Cross Nurse showed up. He is known to have said “what are you two doing here!” upon sighting them.

Douglas also served during the Second World War in Canada as a Transport Officer for prisoners of war.

We Will Remember Them