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Auction: 25001 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 346

(x) The '1916 Trench Raid' D.C.M. awarded to Sergeant H. P. Evans, 19th Battalion, Australian Infantry, who was killed in action during the final days of the Somme Offensive

Distinguished Conduct Medal, G.V.R. (1890 L.Cpl. H. P. Evans. 19/Aust:Inf:), nearly extremely fine

D.C.M. London Gazette 22 September 1916, the original citation states:

'For conspicuous gallantry during a successful raid on the enemy's trenches. He carried in the body of a sergeant, who had been killed, 200 yards under intense shellfire. On another occasion he shot the leader of an enemy patrol whilst reconnoitring.'

Hamblett Poole Evans was born at Coldfield, Warwickshire in 1889, the son of George and Kate Evans of Silverdale, Manor Road, Sutton Coldfield. Emigrating to Australia he was working as a storekeeper when the Great War began and joined the Australian Imperial Force in New South Wales, being posted to the 19th Battalion.

This unit was posted to Gallipoli, arriving at Anzac Cove just after the initial landings they saw action at the attack on Hill 60. Evans was not to remain with the unit for the duration of their time in Gallipoli, being evacuated with gonorrhoea on 13 November. Almost immediately upon his recovery he caught malaria on Lemnos which incapacitated him until after the evacuation of the peninsula.

He joined the British Expeditionary Force Evans and the rest of the Battalion went into the trenches in the Armentières area. Around this time his service papers record:

'Complimented by Lt Gen W. R. Birdwood K.C.S.I., K.C.M.G., C.I.E., D.S.O., in Army Corps Orders dated 26.6.16. for gallant action on the night of 20/21st June 1916.'

A week after the action he was commended for, on the night of 25-26 June he took part in a trench raid, it seems to have been for this action that the award of the D.C.M. was made. Caught in a shell blast in August, Evans was evacuated to Britain with shrapnel wounds and a sprained ankle.

Rejoining his unit on 3 November he was with them for the capture of Gird trench on 14 November 1916. Evans was killed in action during the attack and is commemorated upon the Villers-Bretonneux Memorial.

Subject to 5% tax on Hammer Price in addition to 20% VAT on Buyer’s Premium.

Estimate
£800 to £1,000

Starting price
£600