4th Light Horse Regiment
Memorial Association
258 Regimental Quartermaster Sergeant Hayden Ewart
My grandfather was at Gallipoli and the Somme, and he survived. If it scarred him he never let it show.
Hayden felt an obligation to his digger cobbers who did not come home. He was a strong supporter of the 4th Light Horse Regiment Association and it is said that he never missed a meeting in 60 years.
He was an affectionate and giving man. It might be his “fault” that we are an emotional family.
Hayden was born in Strathmerton, in north central Victoria, not too far from the Murray, on 31 Mar 1891. He was the second oldest out of 10 surviving children.
War was declared on 04 Aug 1914. Hayden, aged 22, enlisted on 20 Aug 1914.
Prospective Australian troops had to pass an extensive physical examination. While getting his teeth checked Hayden claims to be the originator of the indignant query “are we going to shoot them or bite them?”
Maybe because he had been a shop keeper and maybe because of the reputation of being a first class scrounger he was assigned to the Q Store.
He never really said much about Gallipoli. Just little scraps of information here and there. Like the chivalry of the Turkish snipers. But maybe not the one who shot a bit off his ear.
One story was about leaving a dugout to trade for some curry with the Indian troops nearby and returning to find his companions had all been killed by a shell.
He is reputed to be the last member of the Regiment to leave Gallipoli.
In 1916 he was the RQMS for the contingent that went to France. Suffering through extreme cold and snow after being in Egypt.
After the Somme he was awarded the Croix De Guerre – ‘ .. carried out his duties in a conspicuous manner, both under fire and behind the lines.” While in France he also was presented with the Meritorious Service Award.
It says something about the terrible conditions that he never told us anything about the fighting in France. He did mention the dancing girls in Paris though.
In December 1918 he was back in Australia. On 23 Sep 1920, once again working as a Commission Agent, Hayden Ewart, married Elisabeth Victoria Bower. He was 29 and she was 24.
In 1931 when Bob Menzies was creating the United Australia Party Hayden was encouraged to stand for the seat of Indi, but declined.
We are told that he was an enthusiastic card player who lost heavily due to his inability to maintain an appropriate Poker Face.
In WW2, with his own son an infantry Lieutenant fighting in Bougainville, Hayden accepted a commission and then was subsequently elevated to Captain. He was involved in troop transports travelling between Australia and Europe.
Hayden was the President of the 4th Light Horse Regiment Association when a Victory celebration in Melbourne was held. He was working for the Prudential Assurance Company and later was celebrated for selling more than a million pounds worth of policies.
In 1965 he was part of a group WW1 Diggers who undertook a 50th Anniversary Pilgrimage to Gallipoli. The participants met Turkish veterans that had opposed our ANZACS and found that they had much in common.
Hayden was well known for being one of the Light Horse members who rode in ANZAC Day parades, in full uniform What people did not know that my Dad jogged along the whole route, just to be sure his father was safe before hurrying back to march with his own mob.
In August 1975 he was recognised for 50 years membership in the Masons.
In 1980 Hayden & Elizabeth celebrated 60 years of marriage. They received their telegram from the Queen, and the GG, PM, Premier and Governor.
Hayden turned 90 in March 1981. When the film “Gallipoli” was released Hayden was among a group of old diggers that a reporter took to a screening. Apparently the boys judged it as a fair representation. They even recognised the landing place, in spite of those scenes being shot at Cape Woolamai at Phillip Island.
The end came in September that year. Like the song says, as an old soldier he just faded away. He squeezed my hand and then he was gone.
Proudly provided by Rob Ewart
