Lieutenant-Colonel Malcolm MacEwan
Unit : Headquarters Royal Army Medical Corps, 6th Airborne Division
Army No. : 22266
Awards : Distinguished Service Order
Lieutenant-Colonel MacEwan was the Assistant Director Medical Services to the 6th Airborne Division, and therefore commanded all elements of the Royal Army Medical Corps within the Division. He was amongst the select officers of Major-General Gale's staff who, in late February 1944, travelled to I Corps Headquarters to receive the Division's orders for the Normandy landings. It was here that they devised a plan for the Invasion, which was scarcely altered in the months thereafter.
During the morning of the 6th June, MacEwan was at Divisional HQ when a wounded Brigadier Hill arrived to report to Major-General Gale. Noticing his wound, MacEwan took the Brigadier to one side. Hill wrote: "I was seized by the ADMS {Colonel MacEwan} who was the Head Doctor, and he was an old boy of the Division, who'd been in the First World War and was covered in decorations. He said to me, "I'm going to take you off to the Main Dressing Station." I said, "You certainly aren't," and he said, "Well, you've got to have an op." So I said, "I'll have an op on one condition. As soon as it's over, you'll promise to take me back yourself to my Brigade Headquarters." So we struck a deal...". MacEwan honoured the arrangement and, with his driver, accompanied Hill to his Headquarters at Le Mesnil when he had recovered. On the way they surprised a small group of Germans on the road, who immediately ran for the cover of the surrounding woodland. MacEwan and his driver set out after them in the hope of taking some prisoners, but their efforts went unrewarded.
In the post-war period, as a full Colonel, MacEwan was awarded a Bar to the Distinguished Service Order in recognition of his achievements with the Division, in Normandy and elsewhere. His citation reads:
Colonel MacEwan has been with the Airborne Forces for 3 years and after commanding 16 Parachute Field Ambulance in Tunisia, has been ADMS of this division since 1943. Under his strong and inspiring leadership, the divisional medical services have won the complete confidence of every man in the division. Colonel MacEwan himself has shown constant and outstanding gallantry.
Landing by glider in Normandy on the 6th June 1944, he was within 24 hours left with one other rank as the sole survivor of Medical Headquarters. In spite of this tremendous handicap he retained control of his field ambulances. Although working under continuous fire and being frequently isolated in the early stages the medical services continued to work perfectly. During the whole of the division's three months in Normandy, this high standard was maintained although casualties in the medical units exceeded 50%.
On return to England, it was entirely due to Colonel MacEwan's drive and determination, that all medical units were brought up to strength and again raised to the highest pitch of efficiency and spirit.
This officer's planning for the crossing of the Rhine was faultless. Prevented by my {Major-General Eric Bols} order from travelling by air on this operation, he was the first member of the division across the Rhine bridgehead, and first to make physical contact with the troops who had landed by air. After reaching divisional HQ he rapidly gained control of a difficult medical situation, and to do so he travelled freely over areas still full of enemy. From them on till the end of the campaign the medical units were handled admirably by Colonel MacEwan and with the greatest dash and energy.
It would be impossible to overpraise this officer's leadership and organising powers and good moral effect which his efforts have had throughout the division. His gallantry and invincible determination have been quite outstanding.
Colonel MacEwan continued to serve with the 6th Airborne Division after the war in Palestine.
See also: Brigadier Hill.