Claude Eustace Herbert Evans

Claude Eustace Herbert Evans

Claude on right
Personal Information
Date of Birth	14 Aug 1895
Place of Birth	Albany, Western Australia
Death	2 Aug 1972
Place of Death	Bassendean, Western Australia
Age at Enlistment	21 years old
Description	5'5" (1.65m) tall ; 115lbs 52.163 kg ; fresh complexion ; grey eyes ; light brown hair
Occupation	Farmer
Religion	Church of England
Address	NOK Fimiston, Western Australia
Next of Kin	Father , Mr. Arthur Ernest Evans
Military Information
Reg Number	6756
Date of Enlistment	24 Jul 1916
Rank	Private
Unit/Formation	11th Battalion, 22nd Reinforcement allocated to C Company / 7th Brigade, 2nd Division
Date of Embarkation	9 Nov 1916 ‒ 10 Jan 1917
Ship Embarked On	HMAT A8 Argyllshire Fremantle to Devonport
Date of Return	1 Jun 1919 ‒ 8 Jul 1919
Ship Returned On	SS Somali
Fate	Wounded in Action 6 May 1917 Reincourt Returned to Australia
Monument	Armadale and Districts Roll of Honour
Medals	British War Medal Victory Medal

Pre War

Electoral Roll entry - 1917 Military Camp, Claremont, soldier.

War Service

Entering camp at Claremont on 24 Jul 1916, Claude was allocated to the 79th Depot Company. It was not until 9 Aug 1916 that he was allocated to the 23rd reinforcement draft for the 11th Battalion. A month later on 4 Sep 1918 he was reallocated to the 22nd reinforcement draft for the 11th Battalion and he travelled with them aboard HMAT A8 Argyllshire, disembarking in Devonport on 10 Jan 1917. On arrival in England Claude was sent to the 3rd Training Battalion at Durrington to prepare for France. Training complete, he proceeded overseas to France through Folkestone on 5 Apr 1917.

In France he was one of 76 reinforcements taken on strength of the 11th Battalion on 24 Apr 1917 as it moved from Velu to Haplincourt where it was replacing the 5th Dorset Battalion. On the same day, the Sergeant and 29 other ranks who had been providing the Divisional GOC's Guard also rejoined the battalion. Claude was allocated to 'C' Company. Wounded in action on 6 May 1917 during one of the two German attacks on the 11th Battalion which was holding the front line near Reincourt, Claude was seen first by the 5th Field Ambulance before being passed to the 3rd Australian Casualty Clearing Station. On the next day (7 May) Claude was transferred to the 26th General Hospital in Étaples. Three days later on 10 May 1917 he was released to the 6th Convalescent Depot, so we might assume his injury was relatively minor, given he rejoined the battalion on 22 May 1917.

During 1918 he required hospital treatment in France on a number of occasions - 20 to 25 January (scabies); 6 February to 3 March (knee); and 24 April to 28 June (67 days ineffective with VD). He rejoined the battalion again on 13 Aug 1918, having been absent from 20 Jan 1918. Claude was granted leave in England from 22 Mar 1919 until 5 Apr 1919, before returning to France and the 11th Battalion. Sixteen days later on 21 Apr 1919 he was again off to England, and this time home to Australia where he was discharged by 5th Military District.

Post War

During 1925 Claude married Lilith Adelaide Boundy in Katanning. Lilith died aged 60 in 1963.

Electoral Roll entries - 1922 - 1943 Broome Hill, farmer; 1949 - 1954 at 51 Anzac terrace, Bassendean, a council employee; 1958 - 1968 at 22 Sixth avenue, Bassendean, a porter

Was a temporary worker with the Western Australian government Railways in Midland Junction in Dec 1949, and on 9 Feb 1959 was appointed to staff.

Notes

During WW2 Claude enlisted on 4 Feb 1942 with service number W26784. At time of discharge on 31 Jul 1947 he was employed by Western Command Depot Medical & Veterinary Stores.

External Links

• AIF Project
• RSL Memorial