Thomas William EVANS

Thomas William EVANS

Per his military service record (regimental no. 4770), Thomas William Evans was born at Castlemaine, Victoria.[1]  He gave his age as 38 years, his marital status as single, and his occupation as Labourer.  His description on his Certificate of Medical Examination was height 5 feet 6inches tall, weight 149 lbs., with a fair complexion, blue eyes, and light brown hair.  His religious denomination was Church of England.  He completed his medical examination at Dubbo on 12^th October 1915, and was attested at Dubbo on 14^th October 1915 (the day the Coo-ees left Dubbo for Wongarbon).  He claimed to have had no previous military service.

His brother, Mr. J. Evans, later reported in the Mount Alexander Mail that he had ‘been engaged in farming’ in New South Wales for about three years before he enlisted, and that ‘he was one of those who made up the famous Gilgandra snowball’.[2]  A letter in his service record from a Mrs. S. H. Dunford, from a property near Parkes, enquiring as to his whereabouts after the war, stated that he had ‘enlisted with the Gilgandra Coo-ees’.[3]

After completing the Coo-ee March he went to Liverpool Camp as reinforcement for the 13^th Battalion.

On his embarkation roll his address at time of enrolment was Parker Street, Castlemaine, Victoria, and his next of kin is listed as his mother, Mrs I. [Isabella] Evans, at the same address.

On 8^th March 1916 Private Evans, along with many of the other Coo-ees, departed Sydney on the HMAT A15 Star of England, as 15th reinforcements for the 13th Battalion.  He arrived in Egypt on 11^th April 1916.

He was transferred to the 45^th Battalion on 19^th April 1916.

On 2^nd June 1916 Private Evans left Alexandria aboard the transport Kinfauns Castle, bound for France.  He arrived at Marseilles on 8^th June 1916.

Private Evans served with the 45^th Battalion through its first action at Fleurbaix, France in July 1916, then as it moved to Pozieres in early August 1916.

On 14^th August 1916 the 45^th Battalion was in the front line trenches between Pozieres and Martinpuich in France.  During this day 45^th Battalion had casualties of 15 men wounded from artillery shelling.  Private Evans was one of the wounded.  He was evacuated to the 4^th Field ambulance, then 44^th Casualty Clearing Station, with a shrapnel wound to his back.  He was put on the Ambulance Train, and admitted to the 5^th General Hospital at Rouen on 16^th August 1916.

On 23^rd August 1916 he was discharged, and sent to the 4^th Australian Division Base Depot at Etaples, France.

He rejoined the 45^th Battalion on 16^th of September 1916 when it was conducting training at Victoria Camp near Rhenninghelst, Belgium.

On 19^th November 1916 the 45^th Battalion was moving into the front line at Grease Trench, just north of Gueducourt, France, when Private Evans was evacuated to the 38^th Casualty Clearing Station sick with Influenza.

On 21^st November 1916 he was placed aboard the 20^th Ambulance Train, and conveyed to the 12^th General Hospital at Rouen, France, where he was admitted on 22^nd November 1916.

Private Evans was discharged from hospital on 2^nd December 1916 and sent to the 4^th Australian Division Base Depot at Etaples, France

Private Evans rejoined the 45^th Battalion on 5^th January 1917 when it was at Dernacourt, France, preparing to move to the front line.

On 20^th February 1917 the 45^th Battalion was in action near Guedecourt, France, when Private Evans was wounded in action for a second time, receiving a serious shrapnel wound to his right forehead that fractured his skull.  He was evacuated to a Casualty Clearing Station, then on 25^st February 1917 placed aboard the 21^st Ambulance Train.  He was conveyed to the 11^th Stationary Hospital at Rouen, France , where he was admitted on 26^th February 1917, suffering from gunshot wound head penetrating cranium, severe.

On 19^th April 1917 Private Evans was evacuated to England by Hospital Ship.  He was admitted to the 3^rd London General Hospital at Wandsworth.

On 21^st July 1917 Private Evans was evacuated to the 1^st Australian Auxiliary Hospital at Harefield, England.

On 25^th July 1917 Private Evans was discharged from hospital, and granted leave to report to the Number 2 Command Depot at Weymouth, England.

Private Evans left England on 27^th August 1917 for return to Australia aboard the H.M.A.T. Pakeha, arriving in Australia on 25^th October 1917.

He was discharged medically unfit on 22^nd November 1917, with gunshot wound to the head, fracture of skull.

[1]  NAA: B2455, EVANS T W

[2] ‘Items of News’, Mount Alexander Mail, 14 September 1916, p. 2. Retrieved February 7, 2017, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article119637481

[3] NAA: B2455, EVANS T W, letter to Base Records, Melbourne, from Mrs S. H. Dunford, “Clear View”, Wongalia P.O., via Gunningbland, Parkes, 29^th July 1920.