Early Life
McEwen was born at Chiltern, Victoria to David James McEwen (died 1907), a pharmacist from Ireland, and his second wife Amy Ellen (née Porter; died 1901). McEwen was orphaned at an early age and raised by his grandmother. He was educated at state schools and at 15 became a junior public service clerk. He enlisted in the Army immediately upon turning 18 but the First World War ended while he was still in training. He commenced dairy farming at Stanhope, Victoria, near Shepparton.
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