Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Douglas Evans was awarded his Military Medal by General Birdwood (UK) while he was visiting Adelaide on 6 March

Douglas Evans was born on the 14th January 1887 in Upper Sturt South Australia. He lived there with his father, David Evans, his mother, Mary Anne (Sparke) Evans, and his sister, Stella Evans (Douglas Evans (1887-1959) | WikiTree FREE Family Tree 2024). Douglas had a pale complexion, hazel eyes, brown hair and attended a Methodist church with his family. At the time Upper Sturt was mainly farmland and in the process of building a railway line connecting to Adelaide (Adelaide-Bridgewater passenger service from 1883 (ends 1987) as part of line through hills to Wolseley near Victoria | Adelaide AZ 2024). The town had a small school that Douglas most likely attended, along with the Methodist church built in 1871 (denisbin 2016). 

Evans enlisted on the  3rdof April 1916 in Adelaide, SA, and embarked on the 13th of July aboard the HMAT Seang Bee A48, as a private in the 48th Infantry Battalion (Terrace 2024). He was part of the fresh recruitments from Australia, where as the other half of them were made up of Gallipoli veterans from the 16th battalion (48th Infantry Battalion 2024). Douglas, along with his battalion were raised in Egypt as part of the “doubling” of the AIF on the 16 March 1916.

The 48th Battalion's first major battle was on the Western front where they were tasked with the duty of defending ground that had previously captured in earlier attacks by the Second division. The 48th were then required to defend ground that was formerly captured during the battle of Mouquet Farm. Evans records suggest that he and his unit then moved to Etaples, strategically located near the coast of northern France. This is where the soldiers were housed as they waited to be moved on for their next battle. Etaples also served as a training ground, a depot for supplies and a hospital for the wounded (Etaples, 1917 2024).

In 1917 the 48th battalion went through a particularly challenging time during the battle of Bullecourt in France and the battle of Passchendaele in Belgium. The battalion was forced to withdraw because of heavy casualties and injurie, this was due to poor preparations and lack of support. Although the battalion had to withdraw on multiple occasions, never once was it due to the lack of courage and skill from the soldiers (48th Australian Infantry Battalion 2024). During all of his battles Douglas showed outstanding courage and determination by leading his troupe into the heavy machine fire and shelling, (according to service records) these actions caused him to climb the ranks from private to Sargent on the 31st of August 1918. Later, on the 30th of October 1918, his actions prompted his earning of a well-deserved military medal (Terrace 2024).

Douglas Evans was awarded the Belgian Croix de Garre  during his service with Australian Imperial Force. It was awarded to him recognising his acts of heroism, courage and ability to greatly inspire the men working alongside him. On the 8th of September he showed great courage and initiative during the attack by going forward and reaching the final objective even under heavy machine gun fire and was able to bring back valuable information to his battalion commander. During the attack on the 19th September 1918, Evans went forward, despite heavy machine gun fire and shelling, he passed through the barrage and again managed to secure very valuable information. 

Evans returned to Australia on the 4th July 1919 and died at the age of 72 in South Australia on the 30th April 1959. He was buried in the Centennial Park Cemetery (Douglas Evans (1887-1959) - Find a Grave Memorial 2019).

Reference list:

“Belgian Croix de Guerre 1915-18.” Awm.gov.au, 2024, www.awm.gov.au/collection/C134646#:~:text=The%20Belgian%20Croix%20de%20Guerre,during%20the%20First%20World%20War. Accessed 16 May 2024.

“Douglas Evans (1887-1959) - Find a Grave Memorial.” Findagrave.com, 2019, www.findagrave.com/memorial/201369569/douglas-evans. Accessed 16 May 2024.

“Douglas Evans (1887-1959) | WikiTree FREE Family Tree.” Wikitree.com, 15 Apr. 2024, www.wikitree.com/wiki/Evans-50150. Accessed 16 May 2024.

“Virtual War Memorial.” Vwma.org.au, 2024, vwma.org.au/explore/projects/132349/edit?t=1715832934140. Accessed 16 May 2024.

‌Adelaide-Bridgewater passenger service from 1883 (ends 1987) as part of line through hills to Wolseley near Victoria | Adelaide AZ 2024, Adelaide AZ, viewed 7 June 2024, <https://adelaideaz.com/articles/adelaide-to-bridgewater-passenger-service-starts-in-1883-as-part-of-line-to-wolseley-near-victorian-border#:~:text=Belair%2FBridgewater%20broad%20gauge%20railway,of%20the%20Adelaide%2DMelbourne%20railway.>.

Douglas Evans 2024, Awm.gov.au, viewed 4 June 2024, <https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/R2190945>.

Etaples, 1917 2024, Awm.gov.au, viewed 7 June 2024, <https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C1264376>.

Terrace, Victoria. “View Digital Copy.” Naa.gov.au, 2024, recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/ViewImage.aspx?B=1908778. Accessed 16 May 2024.

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