Arthur Ewin

Arthur Ewin was born in 1878 the step son of William and Hariett Shakespeare. In 1891 they lived at 16 St Thomas Row Tibshelf Derbyshire. He married Helen Tomlinson on 18th January 1898 and was the father of Grace Ida b1899 Valetta, Malta, Arthur Andrew Hilton b1904 Bertram Henry Llewellyn b1906, Hugh Lionel Frederick b1907, John Joseph McGave b1908 and George Albert Edward Ewin born 1910 . They lived at Montague House, Syerston, near Newark, Nottinghamshire. In 1911 the family are living at 78 Hawton Road, Newark and are shown as Arthur Ewin an army lieutenant and quartermaster, he is living with his wife Helen and their children, Grace Ida 12 yrs a scholar, Arthur Andrew Hilton 7 yrs a scholar, Bertram Henry Llwelyn 5 yrs a scholar, Hugh Lionel Frederick 4 yrs, John Joseph McGave 3 yrs and George Albert Edward 6 months of age.

He was a professional soldier. 1891 - Private Soldier 1899 - Malta Soldier 1901 - CSM, Boer War South Africa 1911 - Lt and QM, 4th Sherwood Foresters. 1914 - Lt and QM, 9th battalion Sherwood Foresters

DCM citation London Gazette 27 September 1901 - Ewin Arthur, Company Sergeant Major, 1st Battalion, Derbyshire Regiment (10th Mounted Infantry) 'For general service with Mounted Infantry'. Dangerously wounded on 19 June 1901 at Smadeel. Arthur served with the Sherwood Foresters (Derbyshire Regiment), re-designated in 1902 The Sherwood Foresters (Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire Regiment) for all of his working life. On the outbreak of war in August 1914, he was appointed Lt & Quartermaster in the 9th Battalion and went with them to Gallipoli in July 1915. After the initial attacks at Suvla on August 9th, the battalion had been decimated but a new attack was ordered for the 11th. The Battalion though was in desperate need of rest and it was decided to hold them in reserve. They did take part in a supporting action on the left flank but this did little except add to the casualties already suffered. Arthur is listed on the CWGC as being killed between the 7th and 11th August but Lieut (Later Lt Colonel) Scothern stated in his notes that it was on the 11th August. Normally a Quartermaster would not have been in the front line and it shows how short of officers the battalion was by this stage. Arthur has no known grave and is commemorated on the Helles Memorial, Gallipoli.

Commemorated: Helles Memorial, Turkey. On 9 September 1921, Mrs Ewin applied for her husband's medals. Arthur served in Second Boer War 1899 - 1902, South Africa. Research John Morse Article published on 27th August 1915 in the Worksop Guardian :- “WORKSOP OFFICER KILLED. “LIEUT.-QUARTERMASTER EWIN. “Mrs. A. Ewin, of 55, Watson-road, Worksop, has officially been informed of the death in action with the British Mediterranean Force, of her husband, Lieut.-Quartermaster Arthur Ewin, attached to the 9th Sherwood Foresters (Notts and Derby Regiment). The distressing news was conveyed by telegram, on Saturday, from the War Office, who stated that death took place between August 7th and August 11th. The wire also expressed the sincere sympathy of Lord Kitchener. No details of how the gallant officer met his death are to hand, but we may be very sure that he died as many other English officers have done – the glorious death of a British soldier. “Lieut. Ewin was dangerously wounded during the Boer War, a gun shot wound in the left lung, and also suffered from pneumonia. He had seen 27 years’ service. “The dead officer’s mother lives in King-street, Creswell, and he is related to Mr. J. Shakespeare, grocer, Whitewell, and Mr. W. Shakespeare, of Creswell. “The news is all the more distressing as Lieut. Ewin leaves a widow and eight young children, the youngest being born just before war broke out. Their consolation in their great loss must be that Lieut. Ewin died bravely for a noble cause. He could not have desired a more noble death. “Lieut.-Quartermaster Arthur Ewin, says the “Newark Advertiser,” succeeded Captain McGuire on the staff of the 4th Battalion Sherwood Foresters at Newark eight years ago. He went out to Matabeleland shortly after joining the Sherwood Foresters, and afterwards fought in the South African War. For distinguished conduct in that campaign he was mentioned in despatches, and won the D.C.M. He was wounded very badly, and on the top of that he contracted enteric. Lieut. Ewin made a remarkable recovery, and was afterwards sent from Aldershot to Newark. During recent years he was practically in charge of the Staff at the Newark depot, though the varied changes which Lord Haldane effected in the old Militia. He has been present at most of the Militia annual encampments at Chilwell, and was well known at Beeston and Chilwell, “When war broke out Lieut.-Quartermaster was still in charge of the depot, and lived with his wife and family at New Balderton, Newark. On the embodiment of the Newark Militia (Special Reserve Battalion) he accompanied them to the North of England, to Whitley Bay, Newcastle, and the neighbourhood. It was on his representations that the Mayoress of Newark’s Ladies’ Working Party sent the old Militia, and especially the Newark men of the Battalion, gifts of warm winter comforts, which Colonel Hamilton, Officer Commanding, gratefully acknowledged. He appears to have been transferred to the 9th Battalion Sherwood Foresters, which was trained at Belton Park, Grantham, prior to going to the Front. The death of so capable and gallant an officer is greatly deplored, and much sympathy will go out to his widow and the eight children who mourn the loss of their devoted father. “THE KING’S SYMPATHY. “On Wednesday, Mrs. Ewin received the following telegram: “The King and Queen deeply regret the loss you and the Army have sustained by the death of your husband in the service of his country. Their Majesties truly sympathise with you in your sorrow. – The Keeper of the Privy Purse.” Above article is courtesy of Jim Grundy and his facebook pages Small Town Great War Hucknall 1914-1918.