DEATH OF LIEUT. COMMANDER EVANS.

Colonist, Volume LVII, Issue 13873, 15 September 1915, Page 4 (Supplement)

DEATH OF LIEUT. COMMANDER EVANS.

(From "The Colonist,'-' Sept., 2.) The followirg is an extract from a letter received from Lieutenant-Colonel Evelegh, Officer Commanding Nelson Battalion, Dardanelles, by the widow of tho late Lieut. Commander Herbert Clyde Evans:—"lt is with very greatsorrow that I have to write and tell you of your husband's death. The sad rows has been broken to you already. It occurred early, on the morning of June sth,. and poor fellow, hie death .was instantaneous. After a heavy day's fighting on the 4th, the Nelson Battalion was sent up at night to ertrench in a gap that existed in our firing line, and an entrenchment had to be dug eonr ecting the two ends of our advanced line. It was a matter of absolute necessity, as had it not been done the Turks would probably ha~o got in between us, and our losses would have been very heavy. The Nelson Battalion did.the work they were called on to do urder a most trying fire a.nd being subjected to numerous bombing parties. By daylight our men were well dug in, and the good work clone by the battalion saved the situation. It was reported to me after daylight that your husband had been shot through the head. About 2 a.m. I had a talk with him, and he was in the best of spirits ard full of determination. In sending in my report of the action I recommended your' husband to the General foi- favourable consideration on account of his good work that night. f had his body brought back and buried it alongside two other .Nelson officers killed that night, and on being relieved from the trenches the officers of the battalion were present at the service.

I have been asked by the officers and men of the battalion to express their deep sympathy with you and your family at the great Inrss. His death was greatly felt by the men of his company, and I shall never be able to replace him. Please forgive a disjointed i<->tter but it is written under a heavy shell fire."