Jim McEwen was born in Dumfriesshire and joined a local TA battalion, 5th King's Own Scottish Borderers, shortly before World War 2.  Jim had transferred to 7th KOSB, before it came to Orkney on garrison duty in July 1943.  Jim met Margaret Groundwater when she was working in a Kirkwall service canteen.  7th KOSB left Orkney in December 1943, just over nine months later landed at Arnhem as glider troops.  Jim was wounded and taken prisoner there, but survived to return home and marry Margaret.  They built up in Kirkwall the furniture business of J & M McEwen, now run by son Billy.  The story of Jim's eventful wartime service has been added as a Word document to the Kirkwall section of the website, or can be downloaded direct as a pdf using the link below.