John Hamblin's Research: Surnames C-E

Caird, David Francis Pilot Officer 60331 (Pilot)

No. 56 Operational Training Unit, Royal Air Force
Killed on active service on the 16th of February 1941 aged 22
David Francis Caird was born on the 23rd of June 1919 the eldest son of Andrew James Caird, a surgeon, and Mary Anderson Caird of Mulcaster House, Stanwix, Carlisle. He was educated at Lime House School, Wetheral, Carlisle and entered the third form of George Watson's College in May 1933 where he was in Cockburn House until 1937. He gained a bursary in 1935 and was a member of the 3rd Rugby XI. He went on to Edinburgh University where he had completed two years of a B. Sc degree in Agriculture when he left to enlist in the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. He was commissioned as a Pilot Officer on the 30th of December 1940.
On the 16th of February 1941, David Caird and Sergeant Aubrey Jessie Burley took off from RAF Sutton Bridge in Miles Master Mk 1 N8043 for an instrument training flight. At the time he had 100 hours of total solo flying time of which 5.50 hours were on the aircraft type. The weather was poor with visibility of 1 to 2 miles and 10/10th cloud down to 900 feet, although at the time of take off the cloud base was between 1,500 and 1,800 feet. There was no training hood in the aircraft and the two pilots were to put their heads inside the cockpit instead. During the exercise the aircraft was making a tight turn when it stalled and crashed near Hilgay Station near Downham Market, killing both men.
His father received the following telegram dated the 17th of February 1941: - "Deeply regret to inform you that your son Pilot Officer David Francis Caird is reported to have lost his life as the result of an aircraft accident on Feb 16th/41. Letter follows. The Air Council express their profound sympathy."
An eyewitness later stated that the aircraft did a very tight vertical turn to the right at about 800 feet. It then flicked out of the turn on its back and was recovering when it hit the ground. The wreckage indicated that the aircraft struck the ground at an angle of 60 degrees to the vertical and not at a particularly high speed.
His funeral took place on the 20th of February 1941.
He is buried at St Matthew's Churchyard, Sutton Bridge Section P Grave 52

Calder David James Leading Aircraftman 1346894

No. 911 School Squadron, United States Army Air Corps
Died of wounds on the 6th of October 1942 aged 19
David James Calder was born at Edinburgh in 1923 the only son of the Reverend James M. Calder and Margaret H. E. Calder of 33, Lockharton Avenue, Edinburgh. He was educated at George Watson's College until 1941 and on leaving school he enlisted in the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. He was selected for pilot training and was posted to the United States. He was posted for advanced training to Craig Field, at Selma in Alabama where instruction was given by United States Army Air Corps instructors. David Calder took off from Craig Field for a training flight on the 3rd of October 1942 in a North American T-6A Texan aircraft. During the exercise, the aircraft crashed two miles to the southwest of York, Sumter in Alabama and he was seriously injured. He died from his injuries three days later in hospital at York.
He is buried at Oakwood Cemetery Montgomery Alabama Section N Lot 100 Grave 4

Cameron, David Lyon Scott Flying Officer 169087

143 Squadron, Royal Air Force
Killed in action on the 25th of September 1944 aged 23
David Lyon Scott Cameron was born at Edinburgh on the 20th of January 1921 the only son of the Reverend Allan Cameron, Principal of the Scottish Church College, Calcutta, later the Minister of Forgandenny Parish Church (1945-1960), and Margaret Knowles Cameron of Forgandenny, Perthshire. He was educated at George Watson’s College from 1929 to 1939 and went on to the Edinburgh College of Architecture.
He enlisted in the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve in 1941 and was trained in Alberta and Ontario, Canada before returning to the UK with the rank of Flight Sergeant in April 1943. He was commissioned as a Pilot Officer on the 29th of November 1943 and was promoted to Flying Officer on the 29th of May 1944.
On the 25th of September 1944, David Cameron and his Observer, Flying Officer Frank Marwood, took off from RAF North Coates in Beaufighter TFX NE739 HO-Q and landed at RAF Langham where they joined crews from 455 Squadron for a briefing on an attack they were to take part in on enemy shipping in Den Halder Anchorage on the coast of Holland. They were to be escorted by Mustang fighters which would bomb enemy flak positions at Den Halder and Texal. Reconnaissance photographs showed the presence of twenty three enemy vessels in the harbour area. He took off again at 2.55pm along with eleven other aircraft from his Squadron for the operation. When the Squadron reached the enemy harbour they strafed and bombed the enemy shipping and were met with intense "light" flak from the enemy ships but scored strikes on a number of them and set one on fire. When they left the target area one ship was seen to blow up with another three larger vessels seen to be burning "fiercely" and another "smoking". Three smaller vessels were also on fire. Two of 143 Squadron's aircraft and one from 455 Squadron failed to return from the mission of which David Cameron’s aircraft was one. One aircraft was seen to be hit during the attack while in the middle of the enemy convoy and plunged into the sea. A second aircraft was also hit, caught fire and crashed into the sea about a mile to the east of Den Helder while a third was seen to crash into the sea about ten miles to the west of Den Helder.
He is remembered on his parent’s grave in Forgandenny Churchyard.
He is commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial Panel 205

Campbell Alexander Colin Aircraftman 1st Class 1370099

Wireless Section, 185 Squadron, Royal Air Force
Killed in action on the 24th of March 1942 aged 21
Alexander Colin Campbell was born at St Andrews on the 3rd of September 1920 the son of John Campbell and Elisabeth Campbell of "Rowanbank", Newhaven Road, Leith, later of "Home Knowe", Carrington Terrace, Crieff in Perthshire. He was educated at George Watson’s College from 1933 to 1937. On leaving school he entered the Head Office of Associated Lothian Coal Owners Ltd.
He enlisted in the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve and was posted to 185 Squadron where he served in the Wireless Section at RAF Hal Far on Malta. He was promoted to Aircraftman 1st Class on the 1st of February 1942.
At 3.10pm on the afternoon of the 24th of March 1942 28 enemy Junkers 87 Stuka dive bombers attacked RAF Hal Far, dropping a total of 84 250kg and 500kg bombs across the airfield. The bombs destroyed the naval wing of the officer’s mess, a barrack block and caused extensive damage to other buildings. Also destroyed were four vehicles and a trailer. During the air raid the men of the Wireless Section took cover in an air raid shelter which received a direct hit from an enemy bomb, killing all inside. Casualties during the action were six airmen, three soldiers and two civilians killed with twelve airmen, one Malta Auxiliary and two civilians missing and with two Royal Air Force officers and one civilian injured. Alexander Campbell was among the dead. Anti aircraft fire from 225 Light Anti Aircraft Battery shot down two of the raiders with another being damaged by a RAF fighter.
The men from the Wireless Section, 185 Squadron who died were: -
Leading Aircraftman James Haynes
Leading Aircraftman Clifford Turpin
Aircraftman 1st Class Alexander Colin Campbell
Corporal Reginald Haslam
The funerals were held on the 26th of March 1942.
He is buried at Capuccini Naval Cemetery Protestant Section (Men’s) Plot F Collective Grave 94

Carnegie, The Reverend Cameron Dundas Chaplain 4th Class 301343

Royal Army Chaplains Department
Killed on active service on the 16th of July 1944 aged 27
Cameron Dundas "Cammie" Carnegie was born at Edinburgh the son of John Clark Carnegie, a kitchen equipment manufacturer, and Mary Ann (nee Denoon) Carnegie of 135, Mayfield Road, Edinburgh. He was educated at George Watson's College from 1927 to 1934 and went on to Edinburgh University where he graduated with a MA in 1939. He studied at New College and acted as a student assistant in St Andrew and St George's Parish Church, Edinburgh.
On the outbreak of war he decided to enlist as a combatant but was persuaded to complete his divinity course with a view to a Chaplaincy in the Church of Scotland. He was commissioned as a Chaplain 4th Class in the Royal Army Chaplains Department on the 26th of November 1943 and was killed in an accident in Normandy.
He is commemorated on the war memorial at St Andrew's and St George's Church, George Street, Edinburgh.
He is buried at La Delivrande War Cemetery Plot VI Row L Grave 1

Carnegie, David Stuart Pilot Officer 77350

61 Squadron, Royal Air Force
Killed in action on the 20th of July 1940 aged 33
Alexander Stuart Carnegie was born at Haddington, East Lothian on the 14th of June 1907 the son of William Carnegie, an auctioneer, and Helena Grace (nee Crichton) Carnegie of 4, Avenue Road, Dalkeith, Midlothian later of Edinburgh. He was educated at George Watson's College until 1924 when he joined the staff of the National Bank of Scotland. In 1929 he moved to the Anglo-American Bank in Coquimbo, Chile. Following the outbreak of war, he returned to the UK and enlisted in the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve where he trained as an Air Gunner at No. 14 Operational Training Unit. He was commissioned as an Acting Pilot Officer on probation on the 3rd of February 1940 and was confirmed in his rank on the 4th of May 1940.
David Carnegie and his crew took off from RAF Hemswell in Hampden Mk 1 P4358 QR- armed with "special bombs", as one of four aircraft from the Squadron, for an operation to attack the enemy battleships Tirpitz and Admiral Scheer in the port of Wilhelmshaven. Their attack was made at low level at a height of around 30-100 feet during which the aircraft was hit repeatedly by anti-aircraft fire and was set alight. It crash landed in flames on mud flats at Werft near Wilhelmshaven where three of the crew were taken prisoner suffering from cuts and bruises. David Carnegie had bailed out of the aircraft but was killed when his parachute failed to open.
The crew was: -
Pilot Officer David Stuart Carnegie (Air Gunner)
Pilot Officer Alexander Herbert Gould RAAF (Pilot) (POW No. 1269 Stalag Luft III)
Sergeant John "Jack" Fleming Cowan (Observer) (POW No. 177 Stalag Luft III)
Sergeant John Noel Prendergast (Wireless Operator/Air Gunner) (POW No. 305 Stalag 357)
His father received the following telegram dated the 21st of July 1940: - "Regret to inform you that your son Pilot Officer David Stuart Carnegie is reported as missing as the result of air operations on 20th July 1940. Letter follows. Any further news will be immediately conveyed to you. Should information reach you from any source please inform this department."
Theirs was one of three aircraft from the Squadron which failed to return from the operation. The Observer, John Cowan, was later awarded the Distinguished Flying Medal for his courage during the attack.
He was buried at Standortfriedhof, Wilhelmshaven but his body was exhumed by No. 74 Graves Registration Unit on the 7th of July 1947 and moved to its present location.
He is buried at Sage War Cemetery Plot 4 Row F Grave 1

Cheyne, Peter James Private 3059385

2nd Battalion, Royal Scots (Royal Regiment)
Died on the 19th of October 1942 aged 23
Peter James Cheyne was born in Kincardineshire in 1919 the youngest son of Alexander Duguid Cheyne, the manager of a life insurance company, and Agnes (nee Ingram) Cheyne of 2, Onslow Gardens, Hornsey in Middlesex, later of 31, Midmar Gardens, Edinburgh. He was educated at George Watson's College from 1927 to 1937. He had commenced studying for a law degree when war broke out and he enlisted in the Royal Scots in 1939. After three months of service he was posted to the 2nd Battalion of his Regiment based at Hong Kong. He was captured there when the colony surrendered to the Japanese on the 25th of December 1941.
He was interned at Argyle Street prisoner of war camp in Hong Kong where he died from diphtheria eight months later.
He is remembered on his parent’s grave at Morningside Cemetery, Edinburgh.
He is buried at Sai Wan War Cemetery Plot VII Row A Grave 18

Christie, William Blair Leading Aircraftman 1071668

No. 6 Service Flying Training School, Royal Air Force
Killed on active service on the 30th of July 1941 aged 26
William Blair Christie was born at Kirkcaldy, Fife on the 7th of August 1914 the eldest son of Thomas Christie, a purveyor of meat, and Katherine Todd (nee Alexander) Christie of Dalblair, Kirkcaldy, Fife. He was educated at Kirkcaldy High School and at George Watson's College from 1929 to 1932. Later the same year, he went on to Edinburgh University where he achieved a MA with Honours in History. From 1939 to 1940 he attended Glasgow University where he studied arts and achieved a degree of Bachelor of Education. He was married to Petrina of 23 Hawthorne Avenue, Glasgow.
He enlisted in the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve and was posted for pilot training to No. 6 Service Flying Training School, based at RAF Windrush in Gloucestershire.
On the 30th of July 1941, William Christie took off with his instructor, Flight Lieutenant Robert Clark Graham, in Oxford Mk II W6619 for a night training flight. While coming in to land the aircraft overshot the flare path and opened up the throttles to go around again. During this manoeuvre the aircraft hit the top of a clump of trees and crashed near to the airfield, seriously injuring Robert Graham and killing William Christie.
Robert Graham was taken to the Royal Air Force Hospital at Innisworth where his right arm and right eye were removed before he later recovered.
He is commemorated on the war memorial at Glasgow University.
He is buried at Hayfield Cemetery, Kirkcaldy Compt. E Grave 2

Cogman, William Curwen Gavine Flying Officer 39274

A Flight, 102 Squadron, Royal Air Force
Killed on active service on the 27th of May 1940 aged 27
William Curwen Gavine Cogman was born at Morningside, Edinburgh on the 16th of May 1913 the son of George Curwen Cogman, a civil servant, and Eliza (nee Gavine) Cogman of 22, Barnton Gardens, Davidson's Mains, Edinburgh. He was educated at George Watson's College until 1931, where he was a member of the 1st Rugby XV. He went on to Bennett College, Sheffield where he studied for a Civil Service examination. He was granted a short service commission as an Acting Pilot Officer in the Royal Air Force on the 21st of December 1936 and was confirmed in his rank on the 12th of October 1937. He was appointed as an Acting Flight Lieutenant on the 2nd of March 1939 and was promoted to Flying Officer on the 12th of May 1939. He relinquished the rank of Acting Flight Lieutenant on the 16th of December 1939.
He was married to Mary Isabelle (nee Mill, later McCulloch) of "Medan", Craiglockhart.
William Cogman and his crew took off from RAF Driffield at 11.59pm on the 8th of September 1939 in Whitley Mk III K8985 DY-J for a leaflet dropping operation over Germany. During their mission they ran short of fuel and strayed into neutral Belgian airspace where they were intercepted by two Belgian Air Force fighters flown by pilots J. Offenberg and Alexis Jottrand. They were forced to land at Nivelles airfield where their aircraft was impounded, and the crew interned.
The crew was: -
Acting Flight Lieutenant William Curwen Gavine Cogman (Pilot)
Corporal Sydney Reay Wood (Air Gunner)
Pilot Officer William Arthur Mack (Navigator)
Sergeant Gerard John Peter Henry (Observer) (Killed in action 28th April 1942)
Aircraftman First Class Alan Steel (Wireless Operator) (Killed in action 29th August 1940)
His wife received the following telegram dated the 10th of September 1939: - "Regret to inform you that your husband Flight Lieutenant William Curwen Gavine Cogman is reported as interned in Belgium following a forced landing on 9/9/39. Letter follows."
The crew was initially interned by the Brussels Gendarmerie, but all were later interned with other British officers at Fort II,in the small village of Borsbeek near Antwerp. On the 24th of November 1939, William Cogman and William Mack, along with three other officers, effected an escape and returned to the UK and to their Squadron in the December, where William Cogman was assigned to A Flight.
William Cogman and his crew took off from RAF Driffield at 8pm on the 19th of May 1940 in Whitley Mk V N1417 DY-B for an operation on Gelsenkirchen. When in the target area, the aircraft was hit by anti-aircraft fire and the crew was forced to bail out. The Observer, Kenneth Thrift, was rendered unconscious by the explosion and was very likely already dead when the 2nd Pilot, Leonard Miller, dragged him to the escape hatch and pushed him out, pulling his ripcord as he fell. He and the others then managed to bail out of the stricken aircraft and it crashed at 11.30pm on the farm of Mr Wilbers at De Klef near Milheeze in North Brabant.
The crew was: -
Flight Lieutenant William Curwen Gavine Cogman (Pilot) (Evaded)
Pilot Officer Leonard Miller DFC (2nd Pilot) (POW No. 0024 Stalag Luft III)
Sergeant Kenneth Victor Thrift (Observer)
Leading Aircraftman John Robert Nicholson (POW No. 13040 Stalag Luft IV)
Aircraftman 2nd Class EH Bros (Rear Gunner) (POW No. 13043 Stalag Luft IV)
Leonard Miller was not captured until the following day when he asked the Germans about the fate of Kenneth Thrift. He was told that he was dead and that his parachute had not deployed. The surviving members of the crew were all captured except William Cogman who managed to evade capture and make his way across the German frontier where he crossed into Belgium and got to Bruges. He later travelled to Ostend where he hid for a while in a farmhouse. On the 26th of May he telephoned Royal Air Force Headquarters in France to report that he was safe. The following day he entered the port area where he boarded the coastal steamer SS Abukir, under the command of Captain Rowland Morris-Woolfenden, which set sail for England at 10.30pm that night with around 480 passengers and crew on board. She was armed with a single Lewis gun.
As the ship sailed out into the Channel it was followed by an aircraft which was dropping flares to illuminate the vessel. This continued for an hour and half while other aircraft dropped bombs, although she sailed on. At 1.15am on the morning of the 28th of May 1940, the SS Abukir was off the port of Nieuport and near to the Noordhinder lightship, when the German E Boat, S35, under the command of Oberleutnant zur See Obermaier, attacked her, firing two torpedoes. These were avoided by the skipper who was sailing a zigzag pattern, but twenty minutes later S35 appeared on their port bow from where she fired two more torpedoes. The first missed but the second struck the coaster amidships, causing her to break in two, burst into flames and sink by the bow in about a minute. Although most of the passengers and crew had been killed in the explosion and sinking, the S35 turned her searchlight on and began to machine gun the survivors in the water. Between 24 and 33 survivors (numbers vary) were rescued at daybreak by four British destroyers, having spent six hours in the water. William Cogman was among the dead.
Pilot Officer Ian James Muirhead, who had been shot down on the 26th of May, was on board the SS "Abukir" and survived. He compiled a report on the events of that night which included a mention of William Cogman: - "So far the Air Ministry have not tried to contact the skipper of the boat who was saved and is he, or myself who could help them regarding personnel on board etc. There was one V.R. lad, a lad called Cogman who jumped behind German lines and had walked and scrounged lifts for a week including crossing the German frontier in uniform."
This information promoted the Royal Air Force to ask him for more details of his encounter with William Cogman which he did in a letter written at the Palace Hotel, Torquay dated the 1st of July 1940: - "Dear Sir, In reply to your letter of the 27th re F/O W.C.G. Cogman. F/O Cogman as far as I can remember him was a well built chap of about 5ft 11 fairly heavy featured, dark hair. The mistake about the V.R. I think occurred through his borrowing a coat with V.R. on it probably from F/Lt Symons whose name I appear to have got down as Stevens. F/Lt Symons was fairly tall, fair haired and a good linguist, as apparently was Cogman who was with Ives and myself for some considerable time. Cogman's story was that he had been shot down by AA fire near Dusseldorf at night and his crew were apparently killed (sic). His machine was set on fire and he had to jump at night in the vicinity of Dusseldorf. On landing he got as far away from the parachute as possible and made for the coast. On one occasion he walked within thirty yards of a German patrol and turned round and walked away without challenge. He was then in RAF uniform. He then apparently crossed the German lines at night by rowing down the River Scheldt and after scrounging a bicycle, worked his way to the vicinity of Bruges where he must have contacted "Panther". Incidentally, several airmen with "Ps" on their shoulder were with us both at the farmhouse at Ostend where we took refuge and later on the Abukir. I think several were picked up. I understood the P to indicate Phantom but I'm probably wrong on this point and I have an idea that the officer I referred to as F/Lt Stevens but who was probably F/Lt Symons had a similar small P on his shoulder. I could not be positive about this now however......... I am completely certain however about Cogman as he said he was from a Whitley Sqd and was in my company practically the whole time. I saw one body of a RAF officer the next morning but could not identify it positively. It was probably F/Lt Symons. I trust this will help you in your quest and if I remember anything further, I will let you know sir. Yours sincerely, Muirhead
Flight Lieutenant Ian Muirhead DFC, 605 Squadron, was killed in action during the Battle of Britain on the 15th of October 1940.
He is commemorated on the war memorial at Davidson's Mains, Edinburgh.
He is commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial Panel 5

Craik, Thomas Baldwin Private 7929

Armoured Car Company, Federated Malay States Volunteer Force Southern Area
Died on the 21st of August 1945 aged 36
Thomas Baldwin Craik was born at 64, Strathearn Road, Edinburgh on the 3rd of April 1909 the son of Thomas Craik and Helen Davidson (nee Baldwin) Craik of 64, Strathearn Road, Edinburgh. He was educated at George Watson's College from 1923 to 1926 when he was apprenticed to the firm of Messrs, A.T. Niven & Co, Chartered Accountants of Edinburgh. On the 10th of July 1937 he sailed from Liverpool to Penang on board the SS Antenor where he joined the firm of Messrs. Cumberbatch & Co Ltd, general merchants and commission agents of Kuala Lumpur.
He enlisted as a Private in the Federated Malay States Volunteer Force and served with the Armoured Car Company for the Southern Area. On the 24th of December 1941, the Armoured Car Companies were amalgamated to form a regiment and were split into two Squadrons. He was captured by the Japanese on the 15th of February 1942 when Singapore surrendered and was later held at 4D Camp, near Tamuang in Thailand where he died from malaria.
He is buried at Kanchanaburi War Cemetery Plot 6 Row B Grave 56

Darling, John Clark Leading Aircraftman 1560163

No. 37 Service Flying Training School, Royal Air Force
Killed on active service on the 5th of October 1942 aged 21
John Clark Darling was born on the 15th of March 1921 the younger son of Dr John May Darling MD and Jean Clark Darling of 1, Beaufort Road, Grange, Edinburgh. He was educated at George Watson's College where he was a gifted piper and served as Pipe Major in the Officer Training Corps for three years. He enlisted in the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve and was posted to Canada for training.
On the 5th of October 1942, he was at The Municipal Airport, Calgary when he accidently walked into the rotating propeller of a Harvard Mk II aircraft and died from multiple injuries.
He is buried at Calgary City Cemetery, Burns Land, Calgary Lot 44, Block 8, Section G

Davidson, Francis Terrey Civilian

Missionary
Died on the 27th of April 1945 aged 42
Francis Terrey "Frank" Davidson was born at Southgate, Middlesex on the 22nd of June 1902 the second son of John Davidson, a publisher, and Frances Elizabeth Davidson of "Badenoch", 10, Hale Grove, Edgware. He was educated at George Watson's College from 1915 to 1917. On leaving school his family emigrated to New Zealand, but the ship they were on was sunk by a German mine and the family lost all of their possessions. With employment opportunities lacking in New Zealand the family moved to Australia after about eighteen months where they settled in Victoria and farmed at Tongala. He was very involved in his local Anglican church, where he led the bible class and was drawn to missionary work. He and a colleague, David Howell, went on an evangelical tour of Gippsland. He joined the Melbourne Bible Institute in 1927 where he was appointed as senior student and was placed in charge of their outside evangelical work. In May 1928 he met with two companions, Carey Tolley and Hudson Southwell, to discuss the formation of an organisation to convert the natives in the jungles of Sarawak to Christianity. In August 1928 the Borneo Evangelical Mission was formed and in the October the three men sailed for Borneo via Singapore. With the other evangelical organisations already operating in Borneo being concentrated in the port and coastal areas, the new mission travelled into the interior of the country where they worked with some success among the Iban, Murut and Kelabit tribes. On the 7th of February 1935 he was married to Edith (née Gray) at the Residency in Limbang. Also in 1935 he was chosen to work in the Trusan area. When the Japanese invaded Sarawak on the 16th of December 1941 he fled to the north of the country but was eventually forced to surrender. He was interned at Kuching Civilian Internment Camp where he was subjected to heavy labour by his captors and, suffering from malnutrition, he died there.
He is commemorated on the Civilian Roll of Honour at St George's Chapel, Westminster Abbey.

Dawson, Quintin Dunlop Maxwell Sergeant 7603192

Royal Army Ordnance Corps
Died on the 2nd of June 1942 aged 30
Quintin Dunlop Maxwell Dawson was born at "Ravenswood", Buckhaven, Fife in 1912 the elder son of Dr John Maxwell Dawson MD DPH and Jean Elizabeth (nee Dunlop) Dawson of 32, Lauder Road, Edinburgh. He was educated at George Watson's College from 1923 to 1928. On leaving school he was apprenticed to the firm of Messrs. J.M. Geoghegan & Co, Chartered Accountants of Edinburgh. He later transferred to the Agricultural Development Organisation, Rutland Street, Edinburgh.
Following the outbreak of war he enlisted in the Royal Army Ordnance Corps in 1939 and saw action during the Battle of France where he was badly wounded in the sinking of the liner SS Lancastria on the 17th of June 1940. He was evacuated to the UK and, following his recovery, was later posted to India where he died.
He was buried at Allahabad in Bengal on the same day. His body was later exhumed and reinterred at its present location.
He is buried at Delhi War Cemetery Plot 7 Row A Grave 3

Dempsey, Alfred James Osborne Lieutenant 268633

B Company, 4/5th Battalion, Royal Scots Fusiliers
Killed in action on the 26th of October 1944 aged 28
Alfred James Osborne Dempsey was born at Edinburgh on the 1st of May 1916 the son of James Dempsey and Jeanetta Steel Dempsey of 28, Mardale Crescent, Edinburgh. He was educated at George Watson's College from 1921 to 1934 where he was a good all round athlete and played rugby, hockey, tennis and golf. On leaving school he went to work for the Royal Bank of Scotland and joined the Territorial Army in 1938.
He was married in July 1942 to Margaret Amos "Peggy" (nee Ross), Women’s Royal Naval Service, of Fairmilehead, Edinburgh.
He was mobilised on the outbreak of war and served with an anti aircraft battery at Gibraltar before being commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the Royal Artillery on the 25th of March 1943. He was promoted to Lieutenant on the 25th of September 1943 and transferred to the Royal Scots Fusiliers on the 1st of April 1944.
At 7.30am on the morning of the 9th of October 1944, the 4/5th Battalion, Royal Scots Fusiliers left Welbeck to travel to Southampton where they embarked for overseas service on board the SS Princess Maud at 8am on the 12th of October. They disembarked at Ostend at 11.30am, being the first Allied troops to be landed there after the city had been liberated.
At 9pm on the evening of the 23rd of October their commanding officer briefed his officers on plans for an assault on South Beveland which was to take place on the 26th of October as part of the Battle of the Scheldt. At 8pm the following evening the assault troops travelled to the landing craft assembly area at Ternhuizen to await embarkation. At 3.45am on the 26th of October 1944 the landing craft cast off and moved to an assembly area off the beaches. The first wave, which consisted of A, B and D Companies, landed on the beach at South Beveland at 4.45am where they had difficulty in landing the men and stores as the sea wall was higher than they had been led to expect. While they were disembarking they came under fire from an enemy position at Hoedekenskerke and B Company was dispatched to neutralise it. Alfred Dempsey led his Platoon in a charge along the sea wall but he and two of his men were killed by enemy fire as they did so. The remainder of his men cleared the enemy position and the advance inland towards Bakendorp began.
He is commemorated in the Royal Bank of Scotland Book of Remembrance and on the war memorial at St Michael’s Church, Slateford Road, Edinburgh.
He is buried at Bergen-Op-Zoom War Cemetery Plot 10 Row B Grave 3

Dempster, Adam Orr Captain 165696

Royal Scots Fusiliers
Killed on active service on the 17th of August 1943 aged 26
Adam Orr Dempster was born at Edinburgh in 1917 the only son of Adam Dempster, General Manager of the British Linen Bank, and Mary Burnside (nee Walker) Dempster of 17, Corennie Drive, Edinburgh. He was educated at George Watson's College from 1922 to 1934. On leaving school he joined the staff of the British Linen Bank. He was a good golfer being a member of the Bruntsfield Links Golfing Society, Craigmillar Park and Watsonian Golf Clubs. He took part in the Dispatch Trophy Amateur Team Tournament and was also a keen angler.
Following the outbreak of war he attended an Officer Cadet Training Unit before being commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the Royal Scots Fusiliers on the 28th of December 1940. He was promoted to Lieutenant on the 28th of June 1942 and to Acting Captain on the 8th of April 1943.
He was killed in an accident in Egypt.
He is buried at Fayid War Cemetery Plot 5 Row G Grave 11

Dickson, Robert Allan Major 114533 RE

Royal Engineers
Killed on active service on the 22nd of June 1942 aged 40
Robert Allan Dickson was born at Newcastle-upon-Tyne on the 7th of July 1901 the only son of Robert Dickson, a wine and spirit merchant, and Jessie Gilmour (nee Ireland) Dickson of 18, Chester Crescent, Newcastle-upon-Tyne. His parents divorced in 1907 and he lived with his mother and older sister at 16, Craiglockhart Road, Edinburgh. He was educated at George Watson's College until 1918 from where he went on to Edinburgh University, graduating with a Bs.C in Civil Engineering. He joined the staff of the International Petroleum Company and spent sixteen years in Peru. On returning to the UK he was appointed as Resident Engineer at Taynuilt under the Ministry of Transport. He was an excellent musician, and played the cello, violin and the bagpipes.
He was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the Royal Engineers on the 15th of January 1940 and was killed in a shooting accident.
He is commemorated at Warriston Crematorium, Edinburgh Panel 1

Doull, Alexander Hamilton Captain 132456

2nd Battalion, Royal Scots Fusiliers
Died of wounds on the 9th of March 1944 aged 29
Alexander Hamilton Doull was born at Edinburgh on the 9th of June 1914 the son of Alexander Doull and Frances Halley (nee Nairn) Doull of 21, Queen's Avenue, Blackhall, Edinburgh. He was educated at George Watson's College from 1926 to 1931 and on leaving school he joined the staff of the Caledonian Insurance Company. He was a keen golfer and was a member of the Baberton Golf Club.
On the outbreak of war he enlisted in the infantry and attended an Officer Cadet Training Unit before being commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the Royal Scots Fusiliers on the 25th of May 1940.
On the 17th of January 1944, the 2nd Battalion, Royal Scots Fusiliers was at Sorbello in Italy where they were to take part in Operation Panther, the crossing of the Garigliano River. At 5.10pm they boarded DUKW amphibious vehicles, with A and B Companies entering the water at 7pm as the leading wave of the attack. They were to be followed by C and D Companies at 7.30pm. Poor navigation by the DUKW crews meant that the leading wave was unable to find the landing beach on the far side with A Company arriving at the correct beach at 1am and B Company, who had gone too far north, arriving at 2am.
Meanwhile, C, D Companies and Battalion Headquarters landed at 10pm and began to push inland. Almost immediately they ran into a minefield where they suffered casualties from anti personnel "S" mines and booby trapped Teller mines. They continued to try to push forward and to find a path through the mines but came across more mines and suffered more casualties. They fell back to the beach where D Company tried to push up a narrow beach but came under heavy machine gun fire from enemy positions hidden in rocks to their southeast. Following two failed attacks, the commanding officer ordered his men to hold their ground in the sand dunes to await the two missing Companies. With the arrival of A Company at 1am a fresh attack was made at 4.45am but this was met with very heavy mortar fire followed by an enemy counterattack which forced a withdrawal and saw the loss of half the men engaged. At 6am the decision was taken that all further attacks would cease and that they would hold the bridgehead where they were.
Casualties during the attack were approximately seven officers and one hundred and forty men. Alexander Doull had been severely wounded during the operation and died from his wounds two months later.
He is commemorated on the war memorial at Baberton Golf Club.
He is buried at Naples War Cemetery Plot II Row H Grave 11

Duncan, John Valentine Stuart Flying Officer 123027

170 Squadron, Royal Air Force
Killed on active service on the 30th of May 1943 aged 20
John Valentine Stuart Duncan was born at Edinburgh in 1922 the only son of Charles Henry Stuart Duncan, an examiner, and May Duncan of 21, Abercorn Terrace, Joppa, Edinburgh. He was educated at George Watson's College from 1935 to 1940 and at Edinburgh University from 1940 where he studied Engineering. He was a member of the University Air Squadron from 1940 and volunteered for service with the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve the following year. He was posted for training to the United States and travelled there via Canada, landing at Halifax on the 26th of September 1941. He arrived at Toronto on the 29th of September and entered the United States at Detroit on the 30th of September 1941. At the border it was noted that he was five feet ten inches tall with a fresh complexion, blue eyes and fair hair. He then travelled on to Florida where he was based at a flying school at Arcadia for pilot training. He later returned to the UK where rose to the rank of Sergeant and underwent further training. He was commissioned as a Pilot Officer on the 14th of March 1941 and was posted to 16 Squadron and later to 170 Squadron in Army Co-Operation Command. He was promoted to Flying Officer on the 1st of October 1942.
On the 30th of May 1943, John Duncan took off with his squadron from RAF Weston Zoyland in Mustang Mk 1 AM108 for an armament training exercise. The airfield was undergoing reconstruction at the time. When returning to base, the aircraft made a normal approach to the runway, but in a strong crosswind. As it touched down the starboard wing lifted and the aircraft swung to port. John Duncan opened up the throttle to go around again but, as he did so, the port wheel caught the top of an unburied petrol tank which was awaiting removal. The aircraft somersaulted into the air and crashed onto its back before bursting into flames, killing him.
His funeral took place on the 4th of June 1943.
He is buried at Harrow Cemetery Section 29 Grave 4951
[Dad married Elisa Grant Addison (nee Milne) 1st March 1916 she was remarried in 1938 so divorced in Oct 1923 so is this his mother? She filed for divorce in 1923 and named only one child being Margaret Sara Rainy born on the 14th of January 1917. Seems unlikely that they would have had another child when they were estranged Grounds were adultery with an unnamed woman May perhaps? Nisi granted 20th Aug 1924
Listed as Stuart-Duncan on CWGC]

Dunlop, Robert Duncan Flying Officer 153256

106 Squadron, Royal Air Force
Killed in action on the 7th of January 1945
Robert Duncan Dunlop was born at Edinburgh on the 15th of August 1921 the only son of Robert G. Dunlop and Mabel Dunlop of 17, Greenbank Loan, Edinburgh. He was educated at George Watson’s College from 1926 to 1938. On leaving school he entered the office of the Public Assistance Department, Edinburgh Corporation, and later attended Edinburgh University with a view to taking the B.Com. Degree. While he was there, he served as a member of the University Air Squadron.
He enlisted in the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve and trained in the UK and Canada. He was commissioned as a Pilot Officer on the 20th of August 1943 and was promoted to Flying Officer on the 20th of February 1944.
On the night of the 7th/8th of January 1945, Bomber Command dispatched 645 Lancasters and 9 Mosquitos for an operation on Munich. The raid was successful with good target marking by the Pathfinders ensuring that severe damage was caused to the industrial areas as well as to the central district of the city. 106 Squadron crossed the target at between 18,000 and 20,000 feet and dropped their bombs between 8.23pm and 8.35pm.
Robert Dunlop and his crew took off from RAF Metheringham at 4.50pm on the 7th of January 1945 in Lancaster Mk 1 PB724 ZN-L for the operation. While over the target, an escape hatch was accidently jettisoned and during the homeward leg, the aircraft passed through snow showers which caused severe icing. Due to the icing the aircraft was forced to descend and it flew into trees in a blizzard near the village of Meligny-le-Grand, 10 kilometres to the west south west of Void-Vacon on the Meuse, killing all but two of the crew.
The crew was: -
Flying Officer James Neil Scott (Pilot)
Sergeant Leslie David Knapman (Flight Engineer)
Flying Officer Kenneth Charles Darke (Navigator)
Flying Officer Robert Duncan Dunlop (Air Bomber)
Sergeant HJ Stunnel (Wireless Operator) (Severely injured)
Sergeant John Frederick Elson (Mid Upper Gunner)
Sergeant RD Needle (Rear Gunner) (Severely injured)
Theirs was one of 11 Lancasters lost on the raid of which 4 crashed in France.
He is buried at Choloy War Cemetery Plot 1 Row H Grave 3

Eccott, Walter Yardley Major

Royal Army Medical Corps
Died on the 2nd of July 1940 aged 43
Walter Yardley Eccott was born at Ipswich, Suffolk on the 3rd of September 1896 the son of Walter James Eccott, a Surveyor of Taxes and County Assessor, and Margaret Annie (nee Dean) Eccott, of 2, Northgate Street, Ipswich, later of 87, Gordon Road, Ealing and of 37, Woodland Way, Petts Wood, Orpington, Kent. He was educated at George Watson's College from 1908 to 1913. On leaving school he entered Edinburgh University where he studied medicine from the 13th of May 1914 and was a member of the Officer Training Corps. He graduated MB ChB in 1918.
He was commissioned as a Lieutenant in the Royal Army Medical Corps (Special Reserve of Officers) on the 20th of March 1919 and served initially at the Royal Artillery Practices Camp at Bryn Golau, Trawsfynydd in Wales. He served in Mesopotamia from 1920 to 1921 from where he was invalided home and placed on the half pay list due to ill health on the 5th of May 1922. He was restored to the full pay list on the 22nd of November 1922 and was promoted to Captain on the 24th of November 1922. He served in India from 1923 to 1928.
He was appointed as Divisional Adjutant to the 48th (South Midland) Division (TA) on the 28th of December 1928 and relinquished his position on the 1st of February 1932. He was promoted to Major on the 20th of March 1931 and was placed on the half pay list due to ill health on the 20th of March 1938. He was later invalided out of the army and died at Orpington in Kent.
His death is not recorded by the Commonwealth War Grave Commission as he was no longer serving at the time of his death.

Edgar, Allan Knowles Sergeant 1380422

77 Squadron, Royal Air Force
Killed in action on the 17th of April 1943 aged 22
Allan Knowles Edgar was born in West Derby, Liverpool in 1921 the eldest son of Captain Thomas Edgar, Master Mariner, and Elsie (nee Knowles) Edgar of Buenos Aires. He was educated at George Watson's College from 1934 to 1939. On the 15th of July 1939 he returned to Argentina on board the SS "Delane" to work in his father's business. He was a member of the Buenos Aires Cricket Club and of the Buenos Aires Rugby Club. He left Argentina on the 6th of September 1940 to return to the UK to enlist and the ship he was travelling on was torpedoed during the return journey.
He enlisted in the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve where he trained as a Wireless Operator/ Air Gunner and rose to the rank of Sergeant.
On the night of the 16th/17th of April 1943, Bomber Command dispatched 197 Lancasters and 130 Halifaxes for an operation to bomb the Skoda armaments factory at Pilsen. The bomber stream was required by the plan to confirm the location of the factory visually, with Pathfinder markings only to be used as a guide. In the event, a large asylum building some seven miles from the intended target was bombed and only six of the aircraft brought back bombing photographs which were within three miles of the real target. The Skoda factory was not hit, although one report states that 200 German soldiers were killed when a bomb hit their barracks.
Allan Edgar and his crew took off from RAF Elvington at 8.46pm on the 16th of April 1943 in Halifax Mk II JB908 KN-W for the operation. During the mission the aircraft was flying near Stuttgart at a height of 12,500 feet when it was attacked by a Messerschmitt Bf110 night fighter flown by Oberleutnant Jakob Bender of 7./NJG101. On returning to base one crew, who had witnessed the aircraft coming down at 12.32am reported: - "One aircraft seen falling with one engine on fire and fire spreading rapidly at Stuttgart."
The aircraft crashed near Ehningen, to the west of Boblingen at 12.30am killing four of the crew with the remaining three being captured. An eyewitness on the ground at Ehningen wrote: - "A four engine bomber, which swept before dawn like a burning torch very low over the village, before the aircraft crashed into the valley of Mauren." Theirs was one of an eventual six victories for Jakob Bender.
The crew was: -
Flight Sergeant Frank Seton Wall (Pilot) (POW No. 1163 Stalag 357)
Sergeant Allan Knowles Edgar (Wireless Operator/Air Gunner)
Sergeant Dick Irvin Pullen (Flight Engineer)
Sergeant George Richard Fernee (Navigator)
Sergeant Raymond Montague Tullett (Air Bomber) (POW No. 1044 Stalag 357)
Sergeant Leonard Johnson (Air Gunner) (POW No. 1010 Stalag 357)
Sergeant Robert Walter Robinson (Air Gunner)
Theirs was one of twenty two aircraft which failed to return from the mission.
Robert Robinson’s body was found in the wreckage of the aircraft but the other three members of the crew, who jumped, including Allan Edgar, were killed when their parachutes failed to deploy in time. They were buried by the Germans at Boblingen with full military honours but were later exhumed and moved to their present location.
He is buried at Durnbach War Cemetery Plot 8 Row F Grave 24

Elliot, John Captain 121440

B Company, 4th (Border) Battalion, King's Own Scottish Borderers
Killed in action on the 24th of January 1945 aged 34
John Elliot was born in Berwickshire on the 10th of March 1910 the youngest son of William Hope Elliot, a farmer, and Janet Duncan (nee Inglis) Elliot of "Ruthven", Coldstream, later of 8, Howe Street, Edinburgh. He was educated at George Watson's College from 1923 to 1926. On leaving school he was apprenticed at Chirnside Paper Mill and later joined the firm of Messrs Johnstone and Horsburgh of London. Four years later he returned to Chirnside Paper Mill as Assistant Manager. He was a member of the Chirnside Tennis Club, Berwick Rugby Football Club and of the East India Club. He was married to Mairi Ann of 16, Mertoun Place, Edinburgh.
He enlisted in a Territorial Army Battalion of the King's Own Scottish Borderers and was mobilised on the outbreak of war. He rose to the rank of Sergeant before attending the 162nd (HAC) Officer Cadet Training Unit at St Martin’s Plain, Folkestone from where he was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the Regiment on the 18th of February 1940. He was one of seven officers who joined the 4th Battalion of the Regiment at Dumfries on the same day.
He landed with his Battalion at St Malo as part of the 2nd British Expeditionary Force on 13th June 1940 but re-embarked on 18th June, as a bridgehead with the French was not able to be established.
He was appointed as Adjutant of the Battalion and was later appointed as second in Command of B Company and saw action in the fighting for Walcheren Island in October 1944.
At 2.30pm on the afternoon of the 23rd of January 1945, the officers of the 4th Battalion, King’s Own Scottish Borderers were briefed for an attack which would take place that night to clear the town of Hinesburg. A and C Companies were to encircle the town with the 7th/9th Battalion, Royal Scots and with the support of crocodile tanks, while B and D Companies would clear it.
At 9.30pm that night the men marched off from Waldfeucht and passed through Bocket, Selsten, where they came under shell and mortar fire, and Aphoven before halting at 2.35am to allow the Royal Scots time to take up positions on the road running into the town. At 5.35am they moved off again, up a sunken road and through Community Trench before arriving at the town square. At 9.30am "severe" enemy shelling began and at 11.45am A Company and the supporting crocodile tanks began clearing the west of the town with hand to hand fighting taking place and with heavy casualties being inflicted on the defenders of the town. Meanwhile D Company and the Royal Scots cleared the east of the town where they met less opposition.
At 2pm B Company, who were in slit trenches to the west of the town's orchards while they waited to advance, came under sustained shelling and mortar fire from enemy positions at Plosterhof. John Elliot was killed by the shellfire and Major G.F. Hoss and the Company Sergeant Major were both wounded. The Company Signaller, Lance Corporal Leitch, although badly wounded in the leg, remained at his post and called on the artillery to lay down a smoke screen to enable the wounded to be evacuated. The Battalion had suffered one hundred and twenty casualties during their assault on Heinsburg.
He is commemorated on the war memorial at the East India Club.
He is buried at Sittard War Cemetery Row C Grave 11

Ewart, James Oliver Colonel 113332 CBE OBE

Intelligence Corps
Killed on active service on the 1st of July 1945 aged 28
James Oliver "Joe" Ewart was born at Taynuilt, Argyllshire on the 3rd of April 1917 the only child of James Oliver Ewart MC and Flora Livingstone Ewart of 2, Craiglockhart Crescent, Edinburgh, later of "Fanas", Taynuilt, Argyllshire. He was educated at the Royal High School, Edinburgh and at George Watson's College from 1929 to 1935 where he was a member of the 3rd Rugby XIV and of the 2nd Cricket XI. He was Dux of School in 1935. He went on to Edinburgh University where he graduated with a First Class Honours degree in Classics in 1939. He travelled widely as a student and became proficient in German, Dutch, Modern Greek, Spanish and Italian.
He was married to Margaret Armstrong of Edinburgh.
Following the outbreak of war he attended the 165th Officer Cadet Training Unit at Dunbar before being commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the Royal Scots on the 13th of January 1940 and was posted to the 7/9th (Highlanders) Battalion of his Regiment. He was transferred to the General List on the 8th of June 1940, shortly before his battalion embarked for service in France, on the 12th of June, and was attached to the Directorate of Military Intelligence at the War Office. He transferred to the Intelligence Corps on the 19th of July 1940 where he served in the Intelligence Training Establishment, and was promoted to temporary Lieutenant on the 21st of April 1941. He was promoted to Lieutenant on the 13th of July 1941 and to Acting Major on the same date. He was mentioned in despatches for "Recognition of gallant and distinguished services in the Middle East during the period November 1941 to April 1942", which was announced by the War Office on the 15th of December 1942 and was mentioned in despatches for ""Gallant and distinguished services in the Middle East" which was announced by the War Office on the 13th of January 1944.
He was awarded the Order of the British Empire, which was announced by St James' Palace on the 23rd of March 1944, in recognition of his service in Sicily. The recommendation for the award reads: - "This officer has on several occasions rendered Eighth Army particularly valuable services. He is an officer of outstanding ability in the Intelligence world, and is always willing and ready to lend a hand wherever required. He was attached to the Eighth Army for some weeks during the battles at Mareth and the Gabès Gap and I cannot speak too highly of his work. Personal gain means nothing to Col. Ewart, he is 100% out to give his best for the common cause. Besides his service with Eighth Army, he performed invaluable work whilst employed at GHQ when I was DHI. I consider he requires some special recognition." The recommendation was signed by Major General Francis Wilfred de Guingand Chief of Staff, Eighth Army.
He was created a Commander of the British Empire (Military Division) for his work during the German Ardennes offensive, which was announced by St James' Palace on the 21st of June 1945. The recommendation for his award reads: - "This officer was responsible for the tactical intelligence throughout the German offensive in the Ardennes. His task was to keep the C-in-C appraised of the enemy situation and to give personal guidance to the armies under command in a very difficult situation. By regular visits to the battle and close personal touch with the situation (in addition to the usual Intelligence sources) he was able to produce a volume and accuracy of information which kept the armies fully informed of the situation and enabled the C-in -C to make such dispositions as he deemed fit in relation to the tricky problems created by the enemy's earlier successes. He was tireless, accurate, even brilliant in his work at this critical juncture and without his presence both in close touch with the C-in-C and with the battle it would have been impossible to have produced a coherent view at a time when accuracy and calmness were more than ever demanded. Col. Ewart made a very substantial personal contribution to the defeat of the enemy's last gamble in the west and he is confidently recommended for the award of CBE."
He was promoted to Major on the 24th of December 1942 and was promoted to temporary Lieutenant Colonel on the same date.
He was promoted to Colonel on the 2nd of June 1944 and by April 1945, he was the second most senior Intelligence officer in 21st Army Group under Field Marshal Bernard Law Montgomery. At the beginning of May 1945 Montgomery's headquarters was at Lüneburg Heath where negotiations for the surrender of German forces had been carried out over the previous days. On the 3rd of May the first German delegation arrived and Montgomery demanded the unconditional surrender of all German forces facing 21st Army Group. There was to be no further negotiation. Joe Ewart was in charge of drawing up and translating the surrender document and to translate what the Germans had to say, although Montgomery was not prepared to hear what they had to say so his translation skills were hardly used as there was little dialogue. The German delegation returned the next afternoon and signed the document with Joe Ewart in the room close to Montgomery. The war ended at 8am the following day, the 5th of May 1945.
He died from injuries as the result of a road accident close to the town of Melle, near Osnabrück in Germany.
He is buried at Munster Heath Cemetery Plot 2 Row F Grave 24

Ewing, Robert Ross Brigadier General OBE

Indian Army attached to the Civil Affairs Staff (Burma)
Died on the 8th of December 1943 aged 52
Robert Ross Ewing was born at Perth on the 22nd of February 1891 the son of the Reverend William Ewing, Minister of St Stephen's Free Church, and Helen Ross Ewing of 45, York Place, Perth. He was educated at Sharps Institution, Perth from the 1st of October 1895 and at George Watson's College from 1899 to 1909. He went on to St Andrews University where he graduated MA in 1912.
He was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant on the Unattached List for the Indian Army on the 5th of September 1911 and was attached to the 61st King George's Own Pioneers on the 7th of August 1912. He arrived in India on the 3rd of October 1912. He was appointed as a Double Company Officer on the 16th of October 1913 and was promoted to Lieutenant on the 5th of December 1913. On the outbreak of war he was posted to East Africa, where he was captured and taken prisoner in 1915 but was later released on parole. He transferred from the army in June 1916 when he was appointed as an Assistant Commandant in Burma and was appointed as Assistant Adjutant in July 1917.
He was married to Margaret Sarah of 70, Marchmont Crescent, Edinburgh and of Prestbury, Gloucestershire.
On the 12th of November 1920 he was appointed as Assistant Commissioner and as a Sub Divisional Officer in August 1921. He was appointed as Warden of Oilfields in December 1923. He served as Deputy Commissioner at various times from March 1924 and was confirmed in that role in May 1931. He was promoted to Major on the 5th of September 1928 and to Lieutenant Colonel on the 5th of September 1937.
He was serving as Deputy Commissioner for Burma and Director of Civil Transport at Rangoon when the Japanese invaded Burma in December 1941 and was heavily involved in organising the transport for the city before it fell in 1942. For his actions he was awarded the Order of the British Empire, which was announced in the London Gazette of the 29th of January 1943. The citation read: - "During the last days of Rangoon, Lieutenant-Colonel Ewing was responsible for the provision of transport for the final demolition contingent and was then chief adviser. He discharged his duties with the utmost efficiency and, in a difficult and dangerous situation, his cool common sense and unruffled temperament did much to maintain the morale of the last party of officials left in Rangoon."
In late 1942 he was appointed as Representative to the Government of Calcutta. In the spring of 1943 he was appointed to the post of Deputy Chief Liaison Officer and acted as Liaison Officer between the British Government and the Eastern Army.
He died at a hospital in Calcutta.
He is buried at Bhowanipore Cemetery, Calcutta Plot O Row C Grave 38
[Commissioned as 2nd Lieutenant in the Forest School OTC 15th April 1912]