5/122 Corporal Oliver Evans, (7/1/1881-16/1/1959). "gallantry in the field"

Mr Joseph Evans, of Richardson street, St. Kilda, has received advice that his son, Corporal Oliver Evans, has been awarded the Military Medal for gallantry on the field. Corporal Evans underwent an operation at his own expense to enable him to qualify for active service, and left with the Second Reinforcements. After spending some time in Egypt, he was transferred to France, where he has been ever since, excepting for two furloughs spent in England. Sapper Thomas Evans, brother of the recipient of the medal, is with the New Zealand Engineers, and was gassed recently.   -Otago Daily Times, 22/11/1917.

Personal

Corporal Oliver Evans, M.M., is returning in the Corinthic, His period of military service covers four and a-half years, a portion of which was spent in Egypt. Last August, when the New Zealand Division was actively engaged, Corporal Evans, who had just been recommended for a commission, was wounded while in the Somme trenches. From there his transference to one of the English hospitals across the Channel was followed by gradual recovery.   -Evening Star, 19/4/1919.

At the original ballot for sections in the Glenn and Pukanui estates, both in North Otago, one section in each was drawn by a soldier who paid his deposit but did not go any further in the matter. The Otago Land Board therefore ordered a fresh ballot for these two sections, and these new proceedings were taken yesterday afternoon. There were 12 applications for section 4s, Glenn Settlement, 313 acres. The draw resulted in Oliver Evans, of St. Kilda, winning; and No. 2 marble represented John James Elder. As Evans was not present to pay the deposit immediately required, he lost his chance, and Elder was declared to he the successful applicant. This morning the reason for Evans’s absence was made clear, a letter being received by the board intimating that he wished to withdraw his application.  -Evening Star, 12/8/1920.

Oliver Evans' Military Medal was awarded for, as his Army record notes, "acts of gallantry in the field."  This might have been something remarkable, considering that his unit was the Army Service Corps, which spent much of its time behind the front line, though they certainly put themselves in danger while supplying it. He was wounded in action, a bullet in his right forearm, in august of 1918.

Although, for whatever reason, he lost out on winning his farm in the ballot, his occupation in the Council records is that of "retired farmer."

Andersons Bay Cemetery, Dunedin.