Orders, Decorations and Medals

A Second World War North Africa operations M.M. group of five awarded to Sergeant W. A. Evans, Royal Artillery - who was originally recommended for a D.C.M. for his gallant deeds in an anti-tank unit in April 1943

Military Medal, G.VI.R. (1064397 Sjt. W. A. Evans, R.A.); 1939-45 Star; Africa Star, clasp, 1st Army; Defence and War Medals 1939-45, minor contact marks, good very fine or better (5) £800-1000

M.M. London Gazette 22 July 1943. The original recommendation - for a D.C.M. - states:

‘Sergeant Evans is Troop Sergeant of ‘K’ Troop, 88th Anti-Tank Battery, 14th Anti-Tank Regiment. Two guns of ‘K’ Troop were ordered into action on Sidi Amellah (?) ridge during the morning of 29 April. The route for the Troop was through a minefield, and then over an open slope which was exposed to shell and small arms fire. The position was just below and defiladed by the lip of the top of the ridge, firing backwards. The guns which should have covered the top of the ridge were either destroyed or unable to occupy the selected positions because of accurate machine-gun and mortar fire. Tanks were reported on the far side of the ridge. It was necessary to manhandle the gun over the crest of the ridge. Sergeant Evans collected some infantry and assisted to manhandle the gun over the top of the hill onto the forward slope which was in full view of the enemy. Enemy tanks were engaged by the gun and two tanks were destroyed in three rounds. Just after this gun opened fire, Sergeant Evans and the infantry he had collected manhandled the second gun on to the crest and the gun opened fire and destroyed a tank.

Early in the tank attack, the Troop Commander had been wounded, and Sergeant Evans took over command of the guns. He collected the infantry to assist in manhandling, helped load the guns, and later conducted the most dangerous operations in order to get the guns and ammunition under cover.’

William Alfred Evans was a native of Rotherham.