An Important Collection of Awards to the SAS and Special Forces

A campaign pair awarded to Lance Corporal A. E. ‘Yanto’ Evans, Special Air Service Regiment

General Service 1918-62, 1 clasp, Malaya, E.II.R. (23200134 Tpr. A. Evans, S.A.S.); General Service 1962, 3 clasps, Borneo, Radfan, Northern Ireland (L/Cpl. A. E. Evans, SAS) together with his German Army ‘Expert Climber’s’ badge, nearly extremely fine (2)

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, An Important Collection of Awards to the SAS and Special Forces.

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Alfred Ernest Evans enlisted into the Parachute Regiment in April 1954 and was permanently attached to the Special Air Service Regiment from 24 July 1955. He served with 22 SAS in Malaya, Borneo and Radfan, and was on one of the early long-range cross border patrols with Captain André Dennison in Borneo. He received a Commander-in-Chief’s commendation from the CinC Middle East in May 1961: ‘The Commander in Chief Middle East has awarded his commendation to Trooper A. Evans, “D” Sqn, 22 SAS Regt, for distinguished conduct 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. Tpr Evans attended to approx 200 casualties whose complaints ranged from 1st degree burns to compound fractures. Some casualties had gaping wounds. Although only trained in First Aid Tpr 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 was discharged from the army in September 1968 but re-enlisted into the Royal Anglian Regiment (TA) in April 1970, accepting a Regular Army appointment in the following September. He completed a tour in Northern Ireland with the Royal Anglians from August to November 1972, and was finally discharged in January 1972. It should be noted that a duplicate set of medals are known to this recipient but that the pair offered here are his original awards. Sold with further details and a copy of a group photograph taken when serving with the SAS.