EVANS Alexander Arthur
2nd Tasmanian Imperial Bushmen (Boer War)
9th Battery, 1st Division Artillery (Gallipoli)
9th, 103rd, 110th Batteries (Western Front)
Staff Officer, 4th Division Artillery
10th Artillery Brigade (Temp LT COL)
Legion of Frontiersmen, Tasmania, Australia
CITATIONDistinguished Service OrderGazetted 3 June 1918, p6461For devotion to duty and most efficient services in command of his Battery. This officer has commanded his Battery since itsformation in February 1916, including the operations at Mallencourt (April and May 1917) ..... (June 1917) and especiallygallant services during the operations at Ypres from July 1917 until wounded on 3rd September 1917. Throughout hisservices and since his rejoining his Battery in November 1917, the work of this officer has been marked by untiring effort,gallantry and proved ability.Military CrossGazetted 15 March 1916, p2887For exceptional gallantry on the Gallipoli Peninsula. When one of the ebemy's shells fell in a gunpit, exploded seven roundsof 18-pr ammunition, and set fire to the coverings of the gun pit, Lieutenant Evans, beat out the fire. He and his party were ingreat danger of being blown up by the explosion of a magazine which was threatened by the fire.Mention in Despatches
Gazetted 1 June 1917, p5420
Mention in Despatches
Gazetted 28 May 1918, p6201
KNOWN AWARDS
Distinguished Service Order (DSO)
Military Cross (MC)
Queens South Africa Medal
Cape Colony, South Africa 1901, unknown & MiD1914-15 Star
British War Medal
Victory Medal
Mention in Despathes (2)War Medal 1939-45
Australian Service Medal 1939-45
Volunteer Officers Decoration (VD)
NOTES
Born 3 November 1881 Australia
Died 3 June 1955 in Hobart, Tasmania, Australia
Buried Cornelian Bay Cemetery, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia
BIOGRAPHICAL
Major Alexander Arthur EVANS, DSO, MC, VD, MiD
2IC, Legion of Frontiersmen, Tasmania, 1930s
Alexander Arthur Evans was born 3 November 1881 in Launceston, Tasmania. He was educated at Launceston Grammar School, serving for four years in the School Cadets. Evans served in the Boer War, South Africa, with the 2ndTasmanian Imperial Bushmen from March 1901 to May 1902. He was wounded, Mentioned in Dispatches (MiD), and promoted from Private to Sergeant. He served in the Cape Colony, taking part in operations against Scheepers Kommando at Ganna Hoek in May 1901. For part of his service, he was also a ‘galloper’ (mounted orderly) to the Commander in Chief, Sir Redvers Buller.On returning home he maintained his interest in the Army, serving for five years with the Launceston Artillery, and in 1912 was appointed LT in the Senior Cadets. In Feb 1914 he was appointed 2LT in the Field Artillery (Militia).When war began in 1914 Evans was appointed as a 2LT in the 3rd Artillery Brigade and embarked in October with the first contingent. He was promoted Lieutenant in February 1915 and reached Gallipoli on 25 April, though his battery's guns were not taken ashore until early May. During this service in Gallipoli, Evans received the MC for conspicuous gallantry.Evans continued to serve as an Artillery Officer in France and Belgium. He was promoted to CAPT in July 1916 and MAJ in September 1917. He fought at Fromelles with the 110th Howitzer Battery, 5th Division, in July 1916 and also fought in the Ypres Salient, August – November 1916, before moving to the Somme from November 1916 to February 1917. He was awarded the DSOin 1918 for his ‘tireless work and valour’ on the Western Front, was twice MiD and wounded several times.He ended hostilities as the CO, Temp LTCOL, of the 10th Field Artillery Brigade.He went on to be Mayor of Launceston twice and was an Independent in the Tasmanian Legislative Council. He called himself 'the soldiers’ voice'. During this time, he was involved with the Legion of Frontiersmen, Tasmanian Command, serving with LTCOL Stretch, DSO, DCM, in the 1930s.He then went onto serve in WW2 with the Army Recruiting organisation and ended the war as a Temp LTCOL. .
