Orders, Decorations and Medals

Pair: Lance-Corporal A. E. “Yanto” Evans, Special Air Service Regiment, late South Wales Borderers and Parachute Regiment, and latterly Royal Anglian Regiment

General Service 1918-62, E.II.R., 1 clasp, Malaya (23200134 Tpr. A. Evans, S.A.S.); General Service 1962, 3 clasps, Borneo, Radfan, Northern Ireland (23200134 L./Cpl. A. E. Evans, S.A.S.), together with the recipient’s German “Expert Climber’s” badge, nearly extremely fine (3) £3000-3500

Alfred Ernest “Yanto” Evans, who appears to have entered the Parachute Regiment via the South Wales Borderers in April 1954, became permanently attached to the Special Air Service in July 1955. He subsequently witnessed active service with 22 S.A.S. in Malaya, Borneo and Radfan, and participated in one of the early long-range cross border patrols with Captain André Dennison in Borneo. He also received the following Commander-in-Chief’s commendation in the Middle East in May 1961:

‘The Commander-in-Chief Middle East has awarded his commendation to Trooper A. Evans, ‘D’ Squadron, 22 S.A.S. Regiment, for distinguished conduct on 7th and 8th April 1961 whilst a passenger on board L.S.T. ‘EMPIRE GUILLEMOT’, which took part in the rescue operations when M.V. ‘DARA’ caught fire in the Persian Gulf. Trooper Evans attended to approximately 200 casualties whose complaints ranged from 1st degree burns to compound fractures. Some casualties had gaping wounds. Although only trained in First Aid Trooper Evans put in about 40 stitches, set broken limbs and treated serious burns. He remained on duty for 16 hours and his fine First Aid work and his unceasing attention to the injured undoubtedly prevented many deaths among the survivors. His conduct throughout the rescue operations reflects great credit on himself, his training and his unit.’

Evans also gained recognition in the Regiment for his mountaineering skills - and the nickname “Evans the Rope” - and became one of just two or three S.A.S. men to qualify for the “Heeresbergfuhrer” Mountain Guide badge afier completing the German Alpine Course.

Evans was discharged from the Army in September 1968 but re-enlisted into the Royal Anglian Regiment (T.A). in April 1970, accepting a Regular Army appointment in the following September. He subsequently completed a tour in Northern Ireland with the Royal Anglians from August to November 1972.

Sold with further details and a copy of a group photograph taken when the recipient was serving with the S.A.S. Lance Corporal Evans is also mentioned in the book, SAS The Jungle Frontier: 22 SAS Regiment in The Borneo Campaign 1963-1966.

Note: A replacement set of medals, both of which are marked ‘duplicate’ is known to exist to this recipient and the awards offered here are his originals.