Corporal Alexander Evans

Ancestor Details

Ancestor's Name: Alexander Arthur Evans
Ancestor's date of birth: 03/11/1881
Ancestor's date of death: 03/06/1955
Cause of Death: Heart Condition
Service Number: 271, 955, T253543
Colony or State of enlistment: TAS, Place of Enlistment: Launceston
Unit: 2^nd Tasmanian Imperial Bushman
Rank attained in Boer War: CPL, Date Effective: 06/02/1902
Highest Rank attained (if served after war): LTCOL, Date Effective: 11/01/1945
Murray Page: 271
Contingent: Fourth Tasmanian
Ship: Chicago, Date of Sailing: 27/03/1901
Memorial details: Detail not provided.
Awards/Decorations: Distinguished Service Order, Military Cross, Volunteer Decoration, Queen's South Africa Medal, 1914/15 Star, British War Medal 1914/1918, British War Medal 1939/45, Austarlian Service Medal 1939/1945, Victory Medal1914/1919, twice Mentioned In Despatches
Personal Characteristics: A great man to me, gentle and without rancour
Reasons to go and fight: Was in the Cadets prior to the Boer War.
Details of service in war: May 1901 - May 1902 in Cape Colony.
Service and life after the Boer War: Married Mrs A Evans, Foster Street, Launceston, Tasmania. Continued to serve in the fortress Artillery. Enlisted in the AIF 18 August 1914 as a 2nd Lieutenant in the 4th Division Field Artillery. Wounded in action with shell concussion Nov 1915 at Gallipoli. Military Cross recommendation date: 5 December 1915 in France. Mention in Despatches recommendation date: 4 March 1917. Distinguished Service Order recommendation date: 1 March 1918. Promoted Major 7 October 1918. Military Cross: Military Order No. 321 (1916). Mention in Despatches awarded, and promulgated 28 May 1918 Awarded, and promulgated, 'London Gazette' No. 30706 (28 May 1918); 'Commonwealth Gazette' No. 165 (24 October 1918).Wounded with shrapnel to left leg April, 1918. Military Cross citation: 'For conspicuous gallantry at Anzac, Gallipoli Peninsular. When one of the enemy's shells fell in a gun pit, exploded seven rounds of 18lb ammunition and set fire to the brushwood covering the pit, Lieutenant Evans, though dazed by the explosion, assisted by only a few men, beat out the fire. He and his party were in great danger of being blown up by the explosion of a magazine which was threatened by the fire.' Source: M.O. 321 of 1916'. In civil life was an accountant, Member of Tasmanian Parliament. Mayor of Launceston 1926. Served again in the Second World War.

Descendant Details

Name of Descendant: Ian George Dowling, Rosebud VIC
Relationship to Ancestor: Son in Law

Return to Descendant Database