Other Rank's breeches : Private R W MacEwen, 13 Battalion, AIF

Place Europe: France, Picardie, Somme, Amiens
Accession Number RELAWM13450
Collection type Heraldry
Object type Uniform
Physical description Brass, Cotton twill, Wool 'Bedford Cord'
Maker Commonwealth Government Clothing Factory
Place made Australia: Victoria, Melbourne
Date made c 1916 -1919
Conflict First World War, 1914-1918
Description

Khaki wool Bedford-cord mounted pattern breeches. The breeches have a concealed four button fly (one missing), with one button at the waistband. There are a further six buttons spaced around the waistband for the fitting of braces. A.l the buttons are brass and have COMMONWEALTH impressed on the front. The waistband is lined with cream-coloured cotton twill, and the fly is lined with khaki cotton plain weave. The breeches have a wide self-fabric band which sits below the knee. The band is lined with khaki cotton plain weave and is fastened with a cotton lace. There is a khaki cotton loop and buttonhole to hold the lace.

History / Summary

Worn by Reginald MacEwen, who was born in Sydney on 18 January 1898. He was 18 years old and living in Bangalow, NSW when he enlisted as a private in the AIF on 11 June 1916. He had previously worked as a bank clerk and had three years of experience with the militia cadets.

MacEwen was given the regimental number 3878 and posted to st Pioneer Battalion. He sailed from Sydney to England aboard HMAT Anchises on 24 January 1917.

As a pioneer, MacEwen is likely to have been involved in the construction and repairing of entrenchments, fortifications and other similar tasks. He later transferred to 13th Infantry Battalion of the 4th Division in July 1917 where he remained for the rest of the war. At this point in the war, the battalion was advancing to the Hindenburg Line in Belgium.

After a period of hospitalisation due to trench fever from 20 February 1918 until April 1918, MacEwen worked at the Australian Divisional Base Depot before rejoining the his battalion who were fighting to stop the German Spring Offensive. After this, they supported the great allied offensive, fighting near Amiens. During fighting at Amiens, on 2 May 1918, MacEwen received a gunshot wound to his left hand when hewas hit by a German sniper while digging himself in. A bullet passed through his palm causing severe damage, and he was sent to England for medical treatment until September 1918. In January 1919, he was sent to 'Corps Education School' for about three weeks before returning to Australia on 23 July 1919.

During the Second World War MacEwen, now living at Culcairn, NSW, again enlisted for service, on 13 May 1942. He was posted to 17th Battalion Volunteer Defence Corps (VDC) with the service number V374085. He discharged from the VDC on 15 February 1943.

MacEwen died on 21 December 1965 at Wauchope, NSW.