Private Reginald Robert Evans

See Notes (1)

Reginald was born in London, England on the 24^th of November 1895. His father was Robert Evans of London and was listed as his next of kin.

Reginald was a machinist by trade and was currently serving in the Citizens Forces when he enlisted at Bacchus Marsh, VIC in the AIF, 7^th Battalion, E Company, on the 24^th of August 1914 - shortly after war was declared - aged just under 20. He embarked aboard the HMAT A20 Hororata in October, disembarking in Egypt in December.

At the beginning of May 1915 Reginald embarked to join the MEF - Gallipoli campaign - but a week later returned to Alexandria, Egypt, for transport details. At the end of September he rejoined his unit at Lemnos, but a few days later was sent back to the transport detail in Egypt - during this period he was AWL and forfeited 22 days pay as a result; possibly he was not happy with transport details and wanted to see some action.

… Reg. Evans had been left here with horses, but he ducked away to the Peninsular with a machine gun section. I understand he was one of the last to leave it, and is now at Lemnos...

A letter from Henry Campbell⁽²⁾

At the start of November he rejoined his unit at Gallipoli. In late December he was admitted to hospital with Enteric Fever and transferred back to Egypt, discharged from hospital in April 1916.

After arriving in France in June 1916 Reginald transferred to the 2^nd Machine Gun Company. In August he was hospitalised with a septic knee and transferred to Wharncliffe War Hospital, Wadsley, Sheffield, England, suffering from varicose veins. In December he was discharged from hospital to two weeks furlough before embarking for Australia aboard the A33 Ayrshire in May 1917 - suffering a derangement of the left hip. On the 21^st of July A PUBLIC WELCOME will be tendered⁽³⁾ at the Mechanics' Institute, Bacchus Marsh which he would probably have attended. He was discharged from the AIF, medically unfit in August 1917.

Reginald enlisted in the Australian Army - 6^th Battalion, Volunteer Defence Corps - in 1942 and was discharged with the rank of Lieutenant in 1945. He was living in Geelong, VIC in 1967.

He is listed on the Shire of Bacchus Marsh Roll of Honour and the Bacchus Marsh & District Roll of Honour.

Notes

1. He was in the 7^th Battalion but was transferred to the 2^nd Machine Gun Company. Both were part of the 2^nd Infantry Brigade.
2. The Bacchus Marsh Express 11 Mar 1916
3. The Melton Express 21 Jul 1917

Location of Tree Number N101

Tree Position (accuracy ±1 tree) -37.68145298896146, 144.45852372824248

Related Links

• Timeline
• Nominal Roll
• Embarkation Roll
• Service Records
• 7^th Battalion
• Unit Diaries - 7^th Battalion
• Unit Diaries - 2^nd Machine Gun Company

Last updated by lee, Sat, 28 Aug 2021 11:43:47