War hero receives bravery award
A VETERAN who volunteered to serve in the Second World World War at the age of 18 to avoid working in the pits, has been honoured for his part in liberating France.
War hero Eion McEwan, 94, has been bestowed with France’s highest honour, the Legion D-Honneur, in recognition of his bravery.
He was part of the fifth (Scottish) Parachute Battalion which was a special force tasked with preventing German forces advancing on foot into France via Italy.
Eion from Milton of Campsie, East Dunbartonshire, joined up in 1940 and became part of the famous Black Watch 3rd Battalion Royal Regiment of Scotland.
Within a year, he found himself selected to form part of the elite 5th battalion.
As well as active service in France, Eion saw action in North Africa, Greece and Italy.
Recalling his time at war, he said: “The Second Front was starting. We were only in the country for 17 days but our mission was to destroy all the roads from Italy to France.
“This meant the Germans had to move all their forces by boat and our navy was waiting for them.”
“I was an apprentice coach builder. In 1940, every young person was joining up.
“A couple of boys I knew were called to the coal mines but no way did I want to work down a pit. “So on my 18th birthday I told my mother I was going to join up.”