EVANS, John James
| Service Number: | VX31857 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 12 June 1940, Royal Park, Vic. |
| Last Rank: | Corporal |
| Last Unit: | 2nd/21st Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Liverpool, England , 5 September 1909 |
| Home Town: | Not yet discovered |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Carpenter's Labourer |
| Died: | Presumed, Ambon, Netherlands East Indies, 20 February 1942, aged 32 years |
| Cemetery: |
No known grave - "Known Unto God" |
| Memorials: | Ambon Memorial, Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Ballarat Australian Ex-Prisoners of War Memorial |
World War 2 Service
| 3 Sep 1939: | Involvement VX31857 | |
|---|---|---|
| 12 Jun 1940: | Enlisted Australian Military Forces (WW2) , Corporal, VX31857, 2nd/21st Infantry Battalion, Royal Park, Vic. |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Mari Walker
Son of Arthur Edward and Elizabeth Evans, of Anfield, Liverpool, England.
Corporal Evans enlisted in June 1940 and embarked for overseas service in December 1941. He arrived in Ambon on 17 December 1941 and was a member of 2/21 Australian Infantry Battalion which was part of “Gull Force”. This force consisted of 1131 Australian soldiers, Dutch and local native troops whose objective was to occupy Ambon Island (approximately 350 miles NNE of Timor, in the Banda Sea) and hinder the Japanese advance.
Cpl Evans was a member of a large garrison that was positioned around Laha Airfield prior to the Japanese invasion of 30 January 1942. Following a series of short but fierce battles, fighting on Ambon ceased on 2nd February 1942, after which Cpl Evans was listed as missing. He was officially presumed deceased on 20 February 1942.
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