Richard Evans MM

Personal Information
Date of Birth	Not known
Place of Birth	Pendlebury, Manchester, England
Death	3 Nov 1968
Place of Death	Byford, Western Australia
Age at Enlistment	28 years, 4 months
Description	5' 5" (1.65m) tall; weight 146 lbs (66.2 kg); dark complexion, brown eyes, brown hair
Occupation	brickmaker
Religion	Church of England
Address	Cardup Brickworks, Beenup, Western Australia
Next of Kin	Brother Mr Benjamin Evans (in UK)
Military Information
Reg Number	3324
Date of Enlistment	24 Jul 1915
Rank	Sergeant
Unit/Formation	11th Battalion, 11th Reinforcement, transferred to 4th Pioneer Battalion, A Company / 4th Division
Date of Embarkation	2 Nov 1915 - 26 Nov 1915
Ship Embarked On	HMAT A38 Ulysses
Date of Return	3 May 1919 - unknown in Fremantle
Ship Returned On	SS Leicestershire
Fate	Wounded in Action 1 Oct 1917 in Prep for Broodseinde
Monument	Armadale War Memorial (Beenup panel)
Medals	1914-15 Medal British War Medal Victory Medal

War Service

On 7 Jan 1916 he was taken on strength by the 11th Battalion at Tel-el-Kebir, and allocated to A Company. Transferred on 1 Mar 1916 to be an inaugural member of the 51st Battalion, and then, a fortnight later transferred once more, this time to the 4th Pioneer Battalion.

On 1 Nov 1916 he was promoted Temporary Corporal, with the rank confirmed on 11 Feb 1917. Recommended on 13 Jun 1917 for the Distinguished Conduct Medal as a Corporal, he was awarded the Military Medal on 21 August.

A Lance Sergeant at the time of his being wounded with a shell wound to his left thigh, (war diary reports right thigh) he was treated by 10th Casualty Clearing Station before being sent to the 8th Red Cross Hospital in France and then, after evacuation to England, admitted to the Northampton War Hospital.

Sent on leave when healed, he was to also spend 41 days in Bulford Hospital with VD, before returning to his unit in France on 18 Jan 1918. His rank (Sergeant) was confirmed on 18 Jan 1918. Remained in France until Feb 1919, and then spent a further three months in Weymouth before he returned to Australia.

Discharged 5th Military District 5 Aug 1919

....." (Corporal) Enlisted in August 1915, and went away with the 11th reinforcements of the 16th Battalion 2nd November 1915. Now serving with the 51st Battalion." [was with them for only a fortnight before being reassigned to the 4th Pioneer Battalion].

Award Comment

Military Medal 21 Aug 1917. (Nomination was for the Distinguish Conduct Medal)

On the afternoon of 7th June near MESSINES, he in company with his Platoon Officer carried out a difficult reconnaissance for a communication trench in full daylight and under heavy machine gun and sniping fire, extending many hundreds of yards into country that was still strongly held by enemy machine guns and Strong Points.

He brought back most useful information, and later assisted in guiding his Company upon the work under cover of darkness.

During the construction of the trench he showed great courage and was of much assistance to his Company Commander.

Post War

Electoral Roll entries - 1922 - 1968 as a brickmaker in Cardup; in 1931 his property name was "Pendlebury". Married in 1922 and in 1925 Wife Jessie Esther Cole appears on the Electoral Roll. No children registered before 1932. In 1980, Jessie is still at "Pendlebury" with (son ?) Eric William.

External Links

• AIF Project
• RSL Memorial