Lewis Pugh Evans | |
|---|---|
 Lieutenant Colonel Lewis Pugh Evansc. 1918 | |
| Born | (1881-01-03)3 January 1881 Abermad,Cardiganshire, Wales |
| Died | 30 November 1962(1962-11-30) (aged 81) Paddington,London, England |
| Buried | |
| Allegiance | United Kingdom |
| Service | British Army |
| Years of service | 1899–1938 1939–1941 |
| Rank | Brigadier |
| Service number | 352 |
| Commands | 159th Brigade 2nd Battalion,Black Watch 14th Brigade Black Watch 1st Battalion,Lincolnshire Regiment |
| Battles / wars | Second Boer War First World WarSecond World War |
| Awards | Victoria Cross Companion of the Order of the Bath Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George Distinguished Service Order &Bar Mentioned in Despatches (7) Officer of the Order of Leopold (Belgium) Croix de guerre (France) |
| Relations | Sir James Hills-Johnes VC (uncle) William George Cubitt VC (uncle) |
BrigadierLewis Pugh Evans,VC, CB, CMG, DSO &Bar, DL (3 January 1881 – 30 November 1962) was aBritish Army officer and a recipient of theVictoria Cross, the highest award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British andCommonwealth forces.[1]
Lewis Pugh Evans was born at AbermadLlanfarian to Sir Gruffydd Humphrey Pugh Evans (1840–1902), Advocate-General of Bengal and a member of the Viceroy's Council, and Lady Emilia Savi Pugh Evans (née Hills; 1849–1938). Lewis Pugh Evans was educated atEton and entered the army after training at theRoyal Military College, Sandhurst.
Lewis Pugh Evans married Margaret Dorothea Seagrave Vaughan-Pryse-Rice on 10 October 1918. They lived at Lovesgrove on the death of his elder brother[2] in 1945.[3]
Following a year at Sandhurst, Evans entered theBritish Army with acommission in theBlack Watch assecond lieutenant on 23 December 1899, and served with the 2nd battalion in theSecond Boer War in South Africa. He took part in operations in theOrange Free State February to May 1900, including the battles ofPoplar Grove,Driefontein and Vet River; operations in theTransvaal May–June 1900, including the actions around Johannesburg, the occupation ofPretoria and thebattle of Diamond Hill; and the battle ofBattle of Belfast (August 1900). After the end of the conventional war he served with his battalion in theOrange River Colony during the Boer guerrilla warfare until peace was declared in June 1902.[4] Following the end of the war in South Africa he left Point Natal forBritish India on the SSIonian in October 1902 with other officers and men of his battalion, which after arrival in Bombay was stationed inSialkot inUmballa inPunjab.[5] After service with his regiment in India, Evans returned to England and obtained a pilot's certificate.
When theFirst World War broke out in the summer of 1914 he was posted as anair observer with theRoyal Flying Corps, and from May 1915 served as abrigade major,[6] but after a few months he returned to the Black Watch and in 1917 was appointed to command the 1st Battalion,Lincolnshire Regiment.
On 4 October 1917 nearZonnebeke, Belgium, Pugh was commanding his battalion when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC:
For most conspicuous bravery and leadership. Lt.-Col. Evans took his battalion in perfect order through a terrific enemy barrage, personally formed up all units, and led them to the assault. While a strong machine gun emplacement was causing casualties, and the troops were working round the flank, Lt.-Col. Evans rushed at it himself and by firing his revolver through the loophole forced the garrison to capitulate. After capturing the first objective he was severely wounded in the shoulder, but refused to be bandaged, and re-formed the troops, pointed out all future objectives, and again led his battalion forward. Again badly wounded, he nevertheless continued to command until the second objective was won, and, after consolidation, collapsed from loss of blood. As there were numerous casualties, he refused assistance, and by his own efforts ultimately reached the Dressing Station.His example of cool bravery stimulated in all ranks the highest valour and determination to win.[7]
After recovering from his wounds he returned to duty with the 1st Battalion. On 9 April 1918 their lines came under attack in the Germans' Spring Offensive in a three-day battle. He was awarded for this aBar to hisDistinguished Service Order,[3] the citation for which read:
On the first day he was moving about everywhere in his forward area during operations, the next day he personally conducted reconnaissance for the counterattack, which he carried out on the third day. It was largely due to his untiring energy and method that the enemy was checked and finally driven out.[8]
At the end of hostilities in November 1918 he was commanding the14th Infantry Brigade of the32nd Division with temporary rank of Brigadier-General.[3]
Evans was mentioned in despatches seven times and was awarded theDistinguished Service Order[9] andBar;[8] the1914 Star and Clasp; the British War Medal; the Victory Medal; theOrder of Leopold (Belgium)[10] and theCroix de Guerre.[citation needed] He was made aCompanion of the Order of St Michael and St George in 1919,[11] and aCompanion of the Order of the Bath in 1938,[12] and was also appointed an Officer of theVenerable Order of the Hospital of St John of Jerusalem.[13]
He also as a living recipient of the Victoria Cross received theKing George V Silver Jubilee Medal (1935),King George VI Coronation Medal (1937), andQueen Elizabeth II Coronation Medal (1953).
His VC is on display in the Lord Ashcroft Gallery at theImperial War Museum, London.
In 1938 he retired from the army but returned to service in theSecond World War as a Military Liaison Officer at the Headquarters of the Wales Region. He worked with theSpecial Operations Executive in India. He later achieved the rank ofbrigadier. Between October 1947 and January 1951 he wasHonorary Colonel of the 16th Battalion, theParachute Regiment.[14][15]
Pugh Evans was Honorary Colonel of theArmy Cadet Force inCeredigion and was for 25 years President of theAberystwyth Branch of theRoyal British Legion.
He was aChurchwarden atLlanbadarn Fawr, where he now lies buried, and aJustice of the Peace on the local bench as well asDeputy Lieutenant forCardiganshire[16] and aFreeman of theborough of Aberystwyth.
He died of aheart attack, aged eighty-one, atPaddington Station, London.[3]