Papers of Malcolm MacEwan, 1895-1980, medical graduate and medical practitioner, University of Glasgow, Scotland

Scope and Content

The collection consists of material relating to the years Malcolm MacEwan spent studying medicine at Glasgow University and includes:  

  • Class and hospital tickets, 1919-1924;
  • Administrative papers from the teaching hospitals, 1914-1923;
  • Examination certificates, 1920-1924;
  • Job application form, 1924.
.

Administrative / Biographical History

Malcolm MacEwan was born on the Isle of Harris, Scotland, in  1894  and was educated at the Nicholson Institute, Stornoway, Isle of Lewis, Scotland. He joined the Ross Mountain Battery in 1912 and served during the First World War, fighting at Gallipoli in  1915  . He was commissioned in 1916. In  1918  he joined the 47 Squadron Royal Flying Corps and became a pilot. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross and was mentioned in Despatches.

After the First World War he joined the volunteer army in South Russia and was awarded the Order of St George ( Russia) and was again mentioned in Despatches. He left the service with the 1914-1915 Star, British War Medal 1914-1920, and the Allied Victory Medal. In 1919 he became a medical student at the University of Glasgow and graduated with an MB ChB in 1924.

After graduation he had a varied and distinguished career serving as a town councillor in Ipswich, forming the 1st ( Ipswich) Air Duty Division of the St John Ambulance Brigade and commanding the 58th Medium Regiment Royal Artillery of the Territorial Army. He was awarded the Territorial Decoration in 1930, the George V Jubilee Medal in 1935 and the George VI Coronation Medal in 1937. He went to France in 1940 with the 58th Medium Regiment and was mentioned in Despatches in December 1940. He then transferred to Royal Army Medical Corps, where he raised, trained and commanded the 16th Parachute Field Ambulance. He was awarded the Distinguished Service Order after service in North Africa and became an Honorary Colonel in the French Algerian Regiment. He joined the 6th Airborne Division as Assistant Director of Medical Services in  June 1943  and was awarded an OBE in  September 1943  and a bar to his DSO in  1944  .

He was demobilised in  1946  having been awarded the  1939-1945 Star, the Africa Star 1st Army Clasp, the France and Germany Star, the Defence Medal, the War Medal, the General Service Medal with Palestine Clasp, the Territorial Decoration with four bars and the St John of Jerusalem Service Medal with four bars. In  1953  he was awarded the Queen Elizabeth Coronation Medal. He died in Ipswich on 5 August  1980.

Arrangement

Arranged chronologically within record series

Access Information

Open

Acquisition Information

Gift : Dr H D MacEwan, 8 Pagent Road, Ipswich, Suffolk : 4 November 1996

Other Finding Aids

Digital file level list available in searchroom

Physical Characteristics and/or Technical Requirements

None which affect the use of this material

Conditions Governing Use

Applications for permission to quote should be sent to the Archivist.

Reproduction subject to usual conditions: educational use and condition of documents

Appraisal Information

This material has been appraised in line with standard GB 0248 procedures

Custodial History

unknown

Accruals

None expected

Related Material

  • Miscellaneous documents, photographs and Gallipoli war diary are held by Imperial War Museum, Lambeth Rd, London SE1 6HZ;
  • Medals are held at Imperial War Museum, Duxford, Cambridge;
  • Other related memorabilia can be found at the Airbourne Forces Museum, Browning Barracks, Aldershot, Hants, GU11 2BU;
  • Various documents and training manuals were given to RAMC Historical Museum, Keogh Barracks, Aldershot, Hants.;
  • The RFC and RAF memorabilia are held at No 47 Squadron Museum, RAF Brize Norton, Carterton, Oxon, OX18 3LX.

Location of Originals

This material is original

Bibliography

No known publications using this material

Additional Information

Description compiled in line with the following international standards: International Council on Archives,ISAD(G) Second Edition, September 1999and National Council on Archives,Rules for the construction of personal, place and corporate names

Scotland is the location of all place names in the administrative/biographical history element, unless otherwise stated.

Fonds level description compiled by Compiled by Lyn Morgan, Archive Trainee, 26 July 1999. Revised by Helen Briscoe, Archive Trainee, 12 August 1999.

Geographical Names