He spent most of his active service career in the Mediterranean and European theatres of operation during the Second World War, where he frequently worked with Field Marshal Sir Bernard Montgomery.

[7] However, it was his language skills that would prove vital in his war service after university; he could speak French, German, Dutch, Modern Greek, Spanish and Italian.

Ewart was initially commissioned into the 7th/9th (Highlanders) Battalion Royal Scots (a mobilised Territorial infantry unit)[8] on 13 January 1940; his service number was 113332.

[16][17] Ewart died on duty of injuries he received in a road traffic accident on 1 July 1945, near the town of Melle, Germany.

[19][20] James Ewart Avenue, built on the former Joint Services School of Intelligence site in Ashford, Kent, is named after him.