The AIF Project

Ernest Andrew EVANS

Regimental number286
Date of birth26 August 1892
Place of birthEssendon, Victoria
SchoolYarraville State School, Victoria
ReligionChurch of England
OccupationTimber clerk
Address17 Auburn Parade, Upper Hawthorn, Melbourne, Victoria
Marital statusSingle
Age at embarkation22
Height5' 9.75"
Weight140 lbs
Next of kinMother, Mrs Janet Calderwood Evans, 17 Auburn Parade, Upper Hawthorn, Melbourne, Victoria
Previous military serviceServed (as Captain) for 5 years 3 months in the Senior Cadets.
Enlistment date26 August 1914
Date of enlistment from Nominal Roll26 August 1914
Place of enlistmentBroadmeadows, Victoria
Rank on enlistmentSergeant
Unit name8th Battalion, C Company
AWM Embarkation Roll number23/25/1
Embarkation detailsUnit embarked from Melbourne, Victoria, on board Transport A24 Benalla on 19 October 1914
Rank from Nominal RollCaptain
Unit from Nominal Roll8th Battalion
Promotions

2nd Lieutenant


Unit: 60th Battalion
Promotion date: 1 June 1915

FateKilled in Action 19 July 1916
Place of death or woundingFromelles, France
Age at death23
Place of burialNo known grave
Commemoration detailsV.C. Corner (Panel No 18), Australian Cemetery Memorial, Fromelles, France
Panel number, Roll of Honour,
  Australian War Memorial
169
Other details

War service: Egypt, Gallipoli, Western Front

Embarked Alexandria to join the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force, Gallipoli, 5 April 1915.

Recommended for promotion to 2nd Lieutenant, 15 May 1915; promoted 2nd Lieutenant, 1 June 1915.

Disembarked Alexandria, 7 January 1916 (general Gallipoli evacuation).

Transferred to 60th Bn, and taken on strength, 24 February 1916.

Promoted Lieutenant, 12 April 1916.

Promoted Captain, 1 June 1916.

Embarked Alexandria to join the British Expeditionary Force, 18 June 1916; disembarked Marseilles, France, 29 June 1916.

Reported Missing, 19 July 1916.

Now, 22 July 1916, reported Killed in Action, 19 July 1916.

Statement, Red Cross File No 1020708, 3057 Pte C. CLARKSON, A Company, 60th Bn, 4 August 1916: 'I was wounded in the charge at Fleurbaix on July 19th and was crawling back the next day when I saw Capt. Evans lying just behind the communication trench which runs out towards the creek in No man's land (sic). I called out to him but he made no answer. I had to go slow and saw him lying there for a couple of hours. He did not move and I concluded he was dead. Later I came on Sgt. Murray of B Coy, he was lying out in a wounded condition and asked me for water. He told me that Capt. Evans had been sniped the night before. This was at about 4 o'clock. It was impossible to get the bodies in at this point because of the heavy fire.'

Second statement, 3041 Pte J.A. CAMERON, A Company, 60th Bn (patient, Kent Nursing Institution, Tunbridge Wells, England), 4 August 1916: 'Informant states that on July 19/16 at Fleurbaix near Armentieres, Capt. Evans he believes was killed, in an attack or charge on German trenches. He was in the charge himself and was told that Capt. Evans was killed, he himself being wounded. He spoke as if he knew Capt. Evans.'

Third statement, 1066 Pte H.W. POLSON, 60th Bn (patient, Fulham Military Hospital, England), 7 August 1916: 'Informant states that on the 19th of July at Fleurbaix S. of Armentieres he was told by a stretcher bearer of his own Company that Capt. Evans (informant's Captain) had been brought in wounded about 6-8 p.m.'

Fourth statement, 2950 Pte A. MORGAN, B Company, 60th Bn (patient, 4th Northern General Hospital, Lincoln, England), 8 August 1916: 'Informant states that on 19th July 1916 at Fleurbaix Capt. Evans was blown to pieces by a shell explosion in the advance about 6 o'clock in the evening. I was not an eye-witness but one of our Company who was an eye-witness told me.'

Fifth statement, 4238 Pte J. WYATT, 60th Bn (patient, 1st Southern General Hospital, Edgbaston, Birmingham, England), 12 August 1916: 'On 19th July 1916 at Fromelles I was wounded in the advance on the right. I saw the Captain on that day where we entered the sap to go in [the] front line. He went into action that day. I did not see him again. That night I was told by men in the Company that he was wounded. I have recently read in the Chronicle a report of his death.'

Sixth statement, 2924 Signaller C. FINNEY, HQ Signalling attached 60th Bn, 17 August 1916: 'I saw the body of Capt. Evans lying out in "No Man's Land", at Fleurbaix, very early in the morning of 20-7-16. He lay face downwards but I examined his body and recognised him. The body of Major McCrae was lying close beside. The Major's body was brought in afterwards but I dot think Capt. Evans was recovered. I am a signaller and was taking a field telephone out under Capt. Evan's (sic) direction when he was killed but I did not see his body until later.'

Seventh statement, 1922 Pte C.J. CLARK, 60th Bn (patient, 2nd Southern General Hospital, Southmead, England), 5 August 1916: 'Capt. Evans was my Company Commander at Sailly on July 19, 1916. We were charging the Germans about 100 yds. from our trenches, and I was wounded and crawled back to a creek. Sgt. Anderson of B. Coy. called for Stretcher-Bearers for Captain Evans. The Sergeant was wounded later and told another wounded man who was giving him water that Captain Evans had been shot through the chest. We had to retire and no wounded were brought in for 36 hours. Captain Evans had disappeared on the first night from the side of Sergeant Anderson. I think that Sergeant Anderson died from a second shot in the head on the second night out.'

Eighth statement, 3017 Lance Corporal H. BEILBY, 60th Bn (patient, Wardell Hospital, Stanmore, England), 29 August 1916: 'On July 20th 1916 at Fleurbaix. He was wounded and saw about 3 yards outside the trench, in which he was tring to reach [the] Dressing Station, the body of Capt. Evans whom he knew well. He was shot through the head. Time 12 noon.' Note by interviewer: 'Informant is quite sure of officers (sic) identity, seems reliable.'

Note on file: 'No trace Germany. Cert. by Capt. Mills. 10.10.19.'

Medals: 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal
SourcesNAA: B2455, EVANS Ernest Andrew
Red Cross File No 1020708

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