George Evans (VC)
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| George Evans | |
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.jpg) George Evans grave at Beckenham Cemetery |
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| Born | 16 February 1876 Kensington, London |
| Died | 28 September 1937 Anerley, London |
| Buried at | Elmers End Cemetery, Beckenham |
| Allegiance |  United Kingdom |
| Service/branch |  British Army |
| Rank | Company Sergeant-Major |
| Unit | Scots Guards Manchester Regiment |
| Battles/wars | Second Boer War World War I |
| Awards | Victoria Cross |
| Other work | NSPCC Inspector |
George Evans VC (16 February 1876 – 28 September 1937) was an English recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.
Evans first served in the Scots Guards during the Second Boer War. When he was 40 years old, and a Company Sergeant-Major in the 18th Battalion (3rd Manchester Pals), The Manchester Regiment of the British Army during the First World War, Evans was awarded the Victoria Cross for his deeds on 30 July 1916 during the Battle of the Somme at Guillemont, France:
Company Sergeant-Major Evans volunteered to take back an important message after five runners had been killed in attempting to do so. He had to cover about 700 yards, the whole of which was under observation from the enemy. He succeeded in delivering the message in spite of being wounded and rejoined his company although advised to go to the dressing station. The return journey had again meant facing 700 yards of severe rifle and machine-gun fire, but by dodging from shell-hole to shell-hole he managed it. Soon afterwards, he was taken prisoner and remained a prisoner-of-war until his exchange to Holland in June 1918. George's was the last VC to be gazetted for the First World War.
He died 28 September 1937 and was buried in Beckenham Crematorium and Cemetery.[1]
His VC is held at the Imperial War Museum in London.
[edit] References
- Monuments to Courage (David Harvey, 1999)[page needed]
- The Register of the Victoria Cross (This England, 1997)[page needed]
- VCs of the First World War - The Somme (Gerald Gliddon, 1994)[page needed]
[edit] External links
- Location of grave and VC medal (S.E. London)
- George Evans (VC) at Find a Grave
- British Battle of the Somme recipients of the Victoria Cross
- Manchester Regiment soldiers
- British Army personnel of World War I
- People from Kensington
- 1876 births
- 1937 deaths
- World War I prisoners of war held by Germany
- British prisoners of war
- British Army personnel of the Second Boer War
- Scots Guards soldiers
