Charity reunites WW2 bible with airman's family

The Bible was found among several donated items at a charity shop in Dover

A Bible that once belonged to a World War Two airman has been returned to his family in Scotland, after being handed in to a charity in Kent.

The book had been given to Flying Officer Norman McEwen by the National Bible Society of Scotland.

It was discovered in the Dover shop of the Emmaus charity, an organisation which helps the homeless back into employment.

His family said the Bible will be blessed at the next gathering of the McEwen family, to be held near Loch Fyne.

Ross McEwen says the Bible will be blessed at the next family gathering in Scotland

Support worker Jackie Pearson, also a military veteran, set herself the task of finding Mr McEwen's family.

She said: "Being ex-military, I knew as soon as I saw the service Bible that it was very precious, and I needed to return it to Norman's family."

With the help of local historian Phil Eyden, she was able to establish that Mr McEwen, originally from Baldernock, had been a rear gunner on a Short Stirling bomber in 190 Squadron.

He was killed when his plane was shot down over Arnhem in the Netherlands on 19 September 1944 as they dropped ammunition and supplies to troops taking part in Operation Market Garden, an unsuccessful attempt to break into northern Germany.

Norman McEwan was killed when his plane was shot down over Arnhem, in the Netherlands

The Bible has since been returned to Mr McEwen's great-great-nephew, Ross McEwen.

He said: "Norman's only surviving child, Rognvald, spoke very highly of his father.

"Even as a man in his late 80s, he remained full of pride in his father's part in the saving of liberty and freedom, even though that same service resulted in Rognvald's time with his father being cut abruptly and tragically short."