Private Colin Russell Ewing
Service #: 19
Summary
FAMILY LIFE
Colin Russell Ewing was born 12th October 1894 in Penrith, son of Thomas Thompson Ewing & Margaret Russell (McCabe) Ewing. He was one of 5 children, with 2 brothers & 2 sisters. His father, a surveyor in Sydney, stood successfully, for the New South Wales Legislative Assembly in 1885, representing the seat of Richmond. He moved to federal politics in 1901, entering the Australian House of Representatives as the Protectionist member for Richmond. Ewing retired from politics in 1910 due to ill health, and began farming at Burringbar. He was knighted for his service to his country.
Colin attended Northbridge (Shore) Sydney Church of England Grammar School and returned to Burringbar to help his father with the dairy farming.
APPLICATION
On 14th August 1915 Colin visited the enlistment office in Liverpool and completed his application. He was single dairy farmer, living in Burringbar, eager to do his bit. His application showed his next of kin as his father, Thomas. He had also done some compulsory service.
His medical showed he was 20 years 9 months old, 5ft 9 ½ inches tall (1.73m), weighed 140 lbs (63kgs), with a dark complexion, hazel eyes & dark hair. His eyesight was good. The Examining Medical Officer stated that Colin “can see the required distance with either eye; his heart and lungs are healthy; he has the free use of his joints; and he declares he is not subject to fits of any description. I consider him fit for active service.”
Colin was Church of England. He was enlisted as a private into the 30th Machine Gun Company with service No 19. On the second page of the Attestation Paper, he made the following oath in the presence of the Attesting Officer: “I, Colin Russell Ewing swear that I will well and truly serve our Sovereign Lord the King in the Australian Imperial Force until the end of the War … SO HELP ME, GOD.”
30th MACHINE GUN COMPANY
The 30th Machine Gun Company was part of the Machine Gun Corps, a unit established during World War I to provide specialized machine gun support to the British Army. These companies were typically attached to infantry divisions and played a crucial role in trench warfare, offering sustained firepower to support offensive and defensive operations. The 30th Machine Gun Company was associated with the 30th Division of the British Army.
AUSTRALIAN TRAINING CAMP
Now training for the new recruits began. Firstly, the men received their vaccinations for smallpox, rabies & plague, then a recruit had to be inducted into military forms of discipline, command, and order. This was partially achieved through a program of basic training carried and, in a sense, was maintained for a long as a man was in the service. It involved marching and drilling with the rifle, cleaning and caring for personal equipment and being supervised and inspected in ways quite different to ordinary civilian life. For example, no boots should be allowed to get in a bad state of wear but must be sent to the bootmaker without delay for repair. Men who were found with hair long and unshaven had to have a haircut and shave
Secondly, after basic training there followed the far more serious exercise of turning a man into a fighting soldier at least partially prepared for the kind of warfare he was about to experience overseas. The topics and exercises in the syllabus of training were a world away from their former lives and included daily physical training, entrenching, wiring, firing rifle grenades, firing the Lewis light machine gun, dealing with gas attack, using hand grenades, using the bayonet, and the routines to be followed in the trenches.
This training was then put into practice during what were called ‘Field Days,’ when men would practice using the skills they had acquired in mock attacks both by day and by night. How well men had learnt to use their weapons, in cooperation with each other in training, would be tested in the harsh reality of the front line. Training would take several months
VOYAGE OVERSEAS
On the 9th November 1915, the recruits left Sydney sailing upon the HMAT Beltana. The epic voyage across the ocean has been described as “the longest journey to war in the history of the world.” They thought it was the start of a new adventure- for many it was their first time so far away from home. However, after some time at sea the biggest problem turned out to be boredom. On-board, Officers organised rigorous training drills and exercise sessions for the men. They were expected to do their own washing, sweep the decks and carry out other chores
Attempts at breaking up the boredom, apart from the regular drill, varied. Shipboard activities included regular church parades and concerts. Troops engaged in lifebelt drill; a cookhouse on deck; soldiers on fatigues peeling potatoes 'spud bashing'; going to the dentist; barber, pay day; soldiers cleaning personal equipment; medical inspection. Sports and recreation included boxing, deck quoits, draughts. Also, the commanding officer's morning inspection; kit inspections; submarine drill; recreation such as the on deck 'open air' library, deck billiards, pillow fighting and card games including Nap. As well, conditions on the ships were cramped and the risk of illness was constant.
Three hearty meals a day were served; breakfast usually consisted of porridge, stew, and tea. Lunch included soup, meat, vegetables, and pudding. Meat, bread with jam and tea was served for dinner. Many of the troops experienced bouts of seasickness on the voyage. The crossing the Equator ceremony, ‘Neptune’s Journey,’ was played-out on each troopship.
TEL EL KEBIR TRAINING CAMP
They disembarked at Suez on 11th December 1915. They had already completed their basic training in Australia but over many more tough months, in the training camp at Tel el Kebir, the volunteers left their old lives farther behind. They began their training with physical fitness exercises, they were taught individual and unit discipline, how to follow commands, how to march, some basic field skills and how to safely handle his weapons. Later, as soldiers specialised in a particular area (for example, machine gunner or signaller) they would be trained in specific skills and would take part in practice manoeuvres and sham fights. They would spend many hours learning training in the use of bayonets, anti- gas training and guard duty along with lectures on camouflage or trench warfare and much more.
Machine gun companies were equipped with Vickers medium machine guns are water-cooled .303 British (7.7 mm) machine guns produced by Vickers Limited. Colin & others in his battalion would have had training in the use of the Vickers medium machine gun which was operated by a three-man crew but typically required more men to move and operate it: one fired, one fed the ammunition, the others helped to carry the weapon, its ammunition, and spare parts.
TRANSFER TO THE 8TH MACHINE GUN COMPANY
During this period, on 9th March 1916 Colin was transferred to the 8th Brigade Machine Gun Coy and taken on strength on 11th March. The 8th Machine Gun Company was part of the Australian Imperial Force during World War I. It was attached to the 8th Brigade of the 5th Division. The company provided critical firepower support using the Vickers Medium Machine Gun, a reliable and robust weapon capable of sustained fire over long distances. The bravery and sacrifices of its members are remembered as part of Australia's broader military heritage.
During March, April, and May of 1916, the 8th Machine Gun Company was in its formative stages as part of the Australian Imperial Force. It was attached to the 8th Brigade of the 5th Division and began training and organizing its personnel.
These months were crucial for preparing the unit for deployment to the Western Front, where it would later play a significant role in providing firepower support during major battles. The company trained extensively in tactics such as enfilade fire and indirect fire, which were essential for both defensive and offensive operations.
PROMOTION TO CORPORAL THEN SERGEANT
On 18th April 1916 Colin was promoted to Corporal, then one day later to Sergeant.
HOSPITALISATION HEAT EXHAUSTION MAY 1916
On 29th May he was admitted to the 8th Field Ambulance in Moascar with heat exhaustion. (A Field Ambulance was a mobile front line medical unit (it was not a vehicle), manned by troops of the Royal Army Medical Corps). He rejoined his unit on 3rd June. Temperatures in Egypt in May can reach 30c, but with little respite from the sun or shade available for the men, heat exhaustion occurs. A person suffers from symptoms such as headaches, fatigue, heavy sweating, and a heartbeat that is particularly accelerated.
TRENCH WARFARE
On 23rd June 1916 his unit arrived in Marseilles to assist on the Western France. The soldiers now found themselves fighting the German in trench warfare. On the Western Front in 1914–1918, both sides constructed elaborate trench, underground, and dugout systems opposing each other along a front, protected from assault by barbed wire. The area between opposing trench lines (known as "no man's land") was fully exposed to artillery fire from both sides. Attacks, even if successful, often sustained severe casualties. Trench warfare created a living environment for the men which was harsh, stagnant, and extremely dangerous. Not only were trenches constantly under threat of attack from shells or other weapons, but there were also many health risks that developed into large-scale problems for medical personnel. Apart from the inescapable cold during the winters in France & Belgium, trenches were often completely waterlogged and muddy, and crawling with lice and rats
The time soldiers spent in the trenches varied depending on factors like their army's rotation system and the intensity of the conflict in their sector. On average:
· Front-line trenches: Soldiers typically remained here for about 4–6 days at a time. This was where the fighting was most intense and the conditions were the harshest.
· Support and reserve trenches: After time on the front line, soldiers were rotated to these positions for around 6–12 days. These trenches were set further back and offered slightly better conditions.
· Rest periods: Soldiers were then moved away from the trench system entirely for rest, training, and recovery, often lasting several weeks, depending on operational needs.
The rotation system helped prevent complete physical and mental exhaustion, but the constant dangers of trench life meant there was rarely any true respite.
THE BATTLE OF FROMELLES JULY 1916
In July 1916, the 8th Machine Gun Company was actively engaged in the Battle of Fromelles, which was the first major battle involving Australian forces on the Western Front. This battle, fought on July 19-20, was intended as a diversionary attack to draw German forces away from the Somme offensive. The company provided critical firepower support during this ill-fated operation, using their Vickers Medium Machine Guns to cover advancing infantry and defend positions.
The Battle of Fromelles resulted in heavy casualties for the Australian forces, and the 8th Machine Gun Company played a significant role in the intense fighting. Their actions during this period highlight the strategic importance of machine gun units in trench warfare.
WOUNDED IN ACTION- GASSED JULY 1916
One of the casualties of this battle was Colin, who, on 21st July 1916, was wounded in action (gassed). An eye witness describes what happens in a gas attack- “[T]he next thing we heard was this sizzling—you know, I mean you could hear this damn stuff coming on—and then saw this awful cloud coming over. A great yellow, greenish-yellow, cloud. It wasn’t very high; about I would say it wasn’t more than 20 feet up. Nobody knew what to think. But immediately it got there we knew what to think, I mean we knew what it was. Well then of course you immediately began to choke, then word came: whatever you do don’t go down. You see if you got to the bottom of the trench, you got the full blast of it because it was heavy stuff, it went down.”
HOSPITALISATION AND CONVALESENCE
He was admitted to the 13th General Hospital in Boulogne, then transferred to England on 27th July to the 2nd Eastern General Hospital, Brighton. On 20th October he was marched into No.2 Command Depot in Weymouth which received men who are likely to be unfit for duty for a period longer than three months. Here he would convalesce but continue with drilling & training as the technology and techniques were rapidly changing and soldiers had to be up to date when they were ready to rejoin their units
On 21st February 1917 he was marched into No.1 Command Depot, Perham Downs which received men who are likely to be fit for duty within three weeks.
OFFICER TRAINING
On 7 April 1917 he was marched into a training camp where he continued with drilling & training with a view to becoming an officer, and on 8th June 1917 he was made Sergeant on Command. On 10th October he proceeded overseas to France and was taken on strength on 19th October 1917
THE THIRD BATTLE OF YPRES (PASSCHENDAELE)
The 8th Machine Gun Company were engaged in the Third Battle of Ypres which took place from July to November 1917. The company played a significant role. As part of the Australian Imperial Force, the company provided crucial firepower support to the 8th Brigade of the 5th Division. Their Vickers Medium Machine Guns were used to suppress enemy positions, protect advancing infantry, and defend against counterattacks.
The battle was marked by relentless rain and mud, making conditions extremely challenging for both soldiers and equipment. Despite these hardships, the 8th Machine Gun Company contributed to key offensives, including the battles of Menin Road, Polygon Wood, and Broodseinde. Their efforts were instrumental in achieving limited territorial gains, although the overall campaign came at a high cost in terms of casualties.
For the next few months, the company focused on defensive operations, maintaining strong positions and preparing for the anticipated German Spring Offensive of 1918. During this period, machine gun units like the 8th were essential in holding the line, disrupting enemy movements, and supporting infantry units in the harsh winter conditions. Their Vickers Medium Machine Guns were used to cover key positions and provide sustained firepower in the face of challenging weather and terrain.
PROMOTION LIEUTENANT FEBRUARY 1918
On 26th February 1918 he was promoted to Lieutenant
WOUNDED IN ACTION GASSED APRIL 1918
On 15th April Colin was once again gassed while undertaking the defensive actions.
HOSPITALISATION GAS POISONING MAY 1918
He was transferred to the 3rd London General Hospital, England with gas poisoning on 1st May 1918. During World War I, the treatment of soldiers exposed to poison gas was a challenging and evolving process. Medical personnel had to adapt quickly to the devastating effects of chemical warfare, which included respiratory damage, blindness, and severe burns. Many gassed soldiers required extended care in field hospitals or specialized facilities. Recovery could be slow, and some soldiers suffered long-term health effects. He was placed on the Seconded List (wounded) and marched into a training brigade on 2nd September, as he had been away from the front for so long.
HOSPITALISATION- BALANITIS
By 7th October 1918 he proceeded back to France and on 10th October he was admitted to the 39th General Hospital in Le Havre with balanitis, which is an inflammatory condition of the glans penis (head of the penis). There are several causes of this including trauma and infection. Either would have been appropriate for Colin who had been many traumatic events in the last few years- the use of chemical weapons and the mechanization of shooting brought horror to men’s lives at the front. But infection was rife in the camps and hospital due to the conditions- no antibiotics then.
On 11th November the fighting was officially over so Colin prepared to return to Australia. After the Armistice, the Australian Prime Minister Billy Hughes insisted Australian troops be repatriated (returned home) as quickly as possible. This logistical challenge was enormous with 135,000 troops brought home from Britain in 147 voyages, and 16,773 troops from the Middle East in 56 voyages, mostly on a first come, first go basis. There was a lack of suitable ships to transport personnel home and many had to wait several months before they were headed back to Australia. He was discharged on 25th November and he embarked on the 19th April 1919 on the Marathon and disembarked on 10th June 1919
FOR HIS SERVICE
For his service, Colin was awarded the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, and the Victory Medal and his name is recorded on the Burringbar War Memorial & Northbridge (Shore) Sydney Church of England Grammar School Memorial Cricket Ground Roll of Honour.
AFTER THE WAR
Colin married Olga Lillian Russell in Sydney in 1921. He enlisted in WWII with service number N60259 as a Captain in the 2nd Garrison Battalion. Colin died 2nd January 1957, aged 62, at Chatswood & is buried at the Northern Suburbs Memorial Gardens and Crematorium, North Ryde, plot JD Wall
If you have any additional information about this individual, we invite you to email us at rsl@msmc.org.au.
Memorial Location
Burringbar War Memorial & Northbridge (Shore) Sydney Church of England Grammar School Memorial Cricket Ground Roll of Honour.
Buried Location
Northern Suburbs Memorial Gardens and Crematorium, North Ryde, plot JD Wall
