Pair: Second Lieutenant D. C. McEwen, 1/9th Battalion, ‘The Dandy Ninth’, Royal Scots, who died on 10 April 1917 of wounds received at Vimy Ridge, during the Battle of Arras, the previous day

British War and Victory Medals (2.Lieut. D. C. McEwen); Memorial plaque (David Campbell McEwan [sic]), the medals and plaque contained in separate contemporary bronzed glazed display frames, the frame containing the plaque with additionally applied Royal Scots badge, note slight variation in spelling of surname, extremely fine (3) £700-900

Provenance: Dix Noonan Webb, July 2004.

David Campbell McEwen was born in 1885, the eldest son of William Campbell McEwen (Writer to the Signet) and Margaret Croall, formerly of 2 Rothesay Crescent, Edinburgh. He was educated at Radley College, Edinburgh Academy and Edinburgh University (where he was a law student and rower), and lived at 9 Douglas Crescent, Edinburgh. He was for some time treasurer of the Juridical Society. He was a keen member of the St. Andrews Boat Club, and won the Hermiston Cup for Challenge Sculls in 1913-14. He became a member of The Society of Writers to the Signet and a partner in the firm of Messrs. J. and A.F. Adam, (W.S.), Edinburgh.

He served during the Great War in France from 3 August 1916 with “A” Company, 1/9th Battalion, Royal Scots, and was wounded on 9 April 1917, dying of wounds the following day at 42 Casualty Clearing Station, France, aged 31. He is buried at Aubigny Communal Cemetery Extension, France. He is also commemorated on the University of Edinburgh, Radley College, Edinburgh Academy and Brunstfield Links Golfing Society Limited War Memorials. A personal memorial tablet was erected in the church on the Isle of Eigg, which reads “In loving memory of David Campbell MacEwen, 2nd Lieutenant, 9th Battalion Royal Scots, who was mortally wounded in the Battle of Arras April 17th, 1917 aged 37.” A final memorial to him was presented to the Battalion by his mother: “In February 1930, on the 15th anniversary of the battalion’s departure to France, Mrs Margaret MacEwan and the late Mr William MacEwan, W.S., in memory of 2nd Lieutenant David Campbell MacEwan, who was killed in action on April 9, 1917 presented a set of drums with all of the battle honours of the regiment from 1680.” A history of the 9th Battalion Royal Scots, N. Gilhooley, refers.

Sold together with a most elaborate display frame, comprising a paper covered frame, which has been hand painted in an art nouveau style, with a classical scene to top of frame, and signed by the artist ‘Theodore Roussel’, the frame glazed to both sides, one side containing the recipient’s Memorial Scroll, this named ‘2nd lt. David Campbell McEwen, Royal Scots’, and the other side containing the Buckingham Palace enclosure; a superb coloured portrait photograph of recipient in uniform; and three biographical panels:

‘David Campbell, eldest son of William Campbell MacEwen, W.S., and Margaret Croall was born on October 20th, 1885. He was a Writer to the Signet when the war began in August 1914. He was very anxious to join the army but owing to his defective sight, did not obtain his commission in the 9th Battalion, The Royal Scots until 14th December 1915. David went to France on August 1st, 1916 and joined his battalion. It formed part of the 51st (Highland Territorial) Division which was taking part in the operations on the Somme. In November, he went through the successful action at Beaumont Hamel, which was stormed and captured. In this, his Division, composed entirely of Scottish troops, took the leading part.

It was in the early morning of 9th April 1917 whilst leading his Platoon against the German trenches in the assault which opened the Battle of Arras that he was mortally wounded. He was taken to the Casualty Clearing Station at Aubigny ten miles from Arras where he passed away on April 10th. He was buried in the little communal cemetery at Aubigny on 13th April.

His life-long friend who was with David during his last two months of service writes: “David was a born Highlander and held it to be a privilege that his service in the Army should be in a Highland Battalion. Of an exceptional cheerful temperament, he attracted all who met him and had many friends in civil life. In the Army, he was the same. It seemed as if not even the most trying of war conditions could damp his natural good spirits. They carried him through to the last and won for him a deep friendship with his brother officers and his own men. 

As a soldier, he showed splendid nerve and a fine example of fearlessness. It was typical of him that at the times his men were exposed to dangers he was always with them and refused to take advantage of any shelter which they could not share.’