Evans, Ernest Redmond
1223 Corporal Ernest Redmond (Reg) Evans - 2nd Australian Stationary Hospital & 13th Field Artillery Brigade
Ernest Redmond (Reg) Evans was born in Parkes New South Wales in 1894 to Ernest and Blanche Evans. The family moved across to Western Australia while Reg was still young and initially took up residence in Perth. Reg began his education at Perth Boys School but then then family moved to Fremantle and Reg continued his education at Fremantle Boys School. Reg's parents had a confectionary store at 106 High Street Fremantle. (later renumbered to 84 High Street).
After leaving school Reg became a Commercial Traveller/Salesman for his mothers confectionary business and also became involved in St Paul's Gymnasium in Beaconsfield where he learnt the art of boxing. The Great War loomed on the horizon and in early August 1914 Reg penned in his diary;
On the fourth day of August, year 1914, England declared war on the central powers, Germany and Austria, to take up her post beside her Allies, France, Russia & Belgium, for Germany and Austria had declared war on France & Serbia late in July, and on France’s ally Russia a few days later, and had also violated Belgium by marching troops through Belgian territory
On the 21st September 1914 Reg went and enlisted into the Australian Imperial Force. He was passed as fit by the medical examiner, who recorded Reg's physical attributes as;
Height - 5 feet 5 inches tall;
Weight - 126lbs;
Chest Measurement - 34-36 inches;
Complexion - Fair;
Eyes - Blue;
Hair - Fair.
Upon his successful enlistment Reg was sent to Blackboy Hill Camp. He noted of this time;
On September the 10th I offered my services and was medically examined at Blackboy Hill camp and passed as fit. I was placed in with a lot of other recruits. On the nineteenth I was attached to the sixteenth Battalion, of the second contingent of the AIF. A few days later I was transferred to the second stationary hospital of the first contingent. The idea of having the good fortune to be one of the first contingent was very pleasing and I took to Ambulance work and stretcher bearing better than I thought. On November 23rd, I with many others were granted three days leave. I spent this time at home in Fremantle and November 27th saw me having the clipper run over my scalp, for orders were given to the effect that all men were to be close cropped. The result that we looked more like mobs of convicts on exercise, than recruits on drill.
Reg would train with the 2nd Australian Stationary Hospital in WA for the next several weeks. As his was a medical unit, they would not have undergone the usual infantry training but would have trained as medical orderlies/nurses and stretcher bearers. On December 14th the men of the 2nd Australian Stationary Hospital including Reg embarked at Fremantle aboard the ship HMAT Kyarra. The ship then set sail for Egypt. Reg wrote of this;
We embarked at Fremantle on the afternoon of December 14th on a ship known as the SS Kyarra. There was a big number of local people to see us off and among them were many friends, including Miss Armstrong, a particular friend of mine. Miss A. was in company of my Mother, Father and Sister.
Everybody seemed happy until the boat moved off. There were many shedding tears, and among them was my sister and Miss Armstrong. I was pleased to see my Mother bear up in the brave manner she did. The scene was one of joy and sorrow and coloured ribbons and tapes which went from the hands of those ashore to the hands of friends on board. By 5.30pm we were outside the harbour area and out of sight of those whom we held so dear…
Xmas day was very slow. There were twelve at my mess table and the leg of mutton issued to us for dinner was far beyond being fit for human consumption. One of the lads placed it on the floor and chalked a circle around and wanted bets as to which side it would walk out. We were also issued with pudding which when opened was found to be mouldy. The only thing that was anyway good was the bottle of ginger beer.
When the men arrived in Egypt they were disembarked and sent to the AIF camp at Mena near Cairo. The 2nd Australian Stationary Hospital was then set up and began to take in ill patients. However Reg and his mates still had time to sightsee.
We saw a little of the capital of Egypt, Cairo and arrived back at Alexandria at 10.15pm. All trams had ceased to run at 10pm, but my friend Frank Schryer who was among us was sure he knew the way and he set off with the party following him. We lost our way and after much walking about came across a Garrie (a native cart). We (7 of us) all climbed into and around the garrie and asked for our destination. The native refused to take us but after us taking whip and reins from him he gave in and set off. He also got lost and did not understand us but at last he stopped at some place and brought out a woman to interpret. This was well and we arrived back at 3am
Reg and his unit remained in Egypt for the next few months. In March 1915 they would have noticed the Australian infantry depart for destination unknown. Then Reg and his unit also received their orders to depart;
We anchored at Port Mudros Lemnos Island at 6.15am on the 14th. There were about fifty troopers and fifty man-of-wars in the Harbour when we arrived. I wonder what we are doing here. I think it must be something to do with the opening up of the Dardanelles.
Ten of us landed and wandered about until we found our way to the villages of “Goodsica” and “Symantra”. The women were much afraid of us, and fled at sight of us. On our return we gathered bunches of wild poppies from the fields. I forgot to mention that the 8th Battalion Brass Band came aboard and gave us a few selections.
We put in most of our time swimming, boating and visiting H.M. Ships where we always got a hearty welcome and always left with plenty of tobacco.
The men of the 2nd Australian Stationary Hospital would soon find themselves temporarily split up. While the Hospital was set up at Mudros, Reg and others with his unit accompanied the British infantry units to Cape Helles. On April 25th 1915 the Australians and British landed on the Turkish coast. While some British units landed unopposed others landed on beaches well covered by Turkish machine guns and infantry. Reg had the task of evacuating the British casualties.
I will not try to describe the awful slaughter of the glorious 29th Division to which we were attached…the trying nature of the four previous days had great effect on my body, for I had very little to eat, and so little sleep. And I now know that stretcher bearing is the hardest and heaviest work I have as yet had a hand in…My hands were covered with big water blisters caused by the stretchers.
Reg remained on the Cape Helles front for the next month, still with the task of evacuating casualties. He was mainly working on the troopships and the smaller barges that were taking the casualties from the beach to the ships.
I slipped down on the barge as usual and gave a hand with a few stretcher cases and then decided to go ashore…I met a few ashore whom I knew and they showed me round several parts of the trenches I had not been and in the afternoon we were making towards one of the outposts when we came slap bang up against two Turks…As soon as they became aware of our presence they sprang to their feet. We pushed them and in the struggle I got a prod in the abdomen with the butt of a rifle. Fortunately we soon overpowered them and afterwards handed them over to a guard………During the past few days I have been doing as little as possible owing to the state of my stomach which is still very painful and tender. Today General Hunter Weston was brought on board…and among his luggage was a set of golf clubs and two lounge chairs...
Not long after this episode Reg was transferred back to the 2nd Australian Stationary Hospital site at Mudros. It was reported in the West Australian Newspaper in September 1915 that Reg had been awarded a certificate from the British Red Cross for his work with the British wounded soldiers at Gallipoli.
After his return to Mudros, Reg recorded that;
A Stationary Hospital is a unit to accommodate two hundred patients, but owing to the heavy casualties had well over 900 hundred patients…Up to August 12th I had been on ward work but on this date I was given a nursing station to look after, with about a hundred dressings to do daily and only one man to assist me.
On the 5th September 1915 Reg became a patient in his own hospital when he developed enteritis. He remained there for about a month receiving treatment. At the end of the month he was released back to duty. The weather was now becoming colder and in October and November 1915 snow fell.
Snow fell in big flakes and the ground was white with snow. The effect on all our boys was very severe, but on the peninsula it was much more worse and as a result many suffered from frost bite and exposure…during the last few days many rumours have been afloat concerning the visit of Lord Kitchener to Gallipoli and Lemnos and the much spoken of evacuation of Gallipoli. Many were of the opinion that something would soon be done…All we could do was wait and see what the move was.
As Reg had predicted Gallipoli was to be evacuated. As the 2nd Australian Stationary Hospital was at Mudros, they were able to clear their patients back to Egypt in a good timeframe. While the Australian infantry had evacuated the Anzac battlefield by December 21st 1915, the British hung on to Cape Helles for a few more weeks, so the 2nd ASH remained at Mudros into January 1916.
Reg finally arrived back in Egypt on the 21st January 1916. He resumed work with his unit as they set up their hospital in Egypt. It appears that Reg wanted a change of scene and applied to join other units;
I made application for transfer to the 5th Division Sanitary section. My application was dismissed without consideration, so I at once put in an application for a transfer as a gunner to the field artillery, also stating that I was desirous of parading to General Howse who was coming to our unit the following day. But instead of being granted an interview with Gen. Howse I was paraded before Colonel Barber ADMS 4th Division. I stated my case to the ADMS who promised to do his best for me.
On the 14th March 1916 Reg's wishes were granted and he was taken on strength of the 4th Australian Division Artillery. He trained for the next two months in Egypt. He was initially posted to the 24th Howitzer Brigade and was then transferred to the 15th Artillery Brigade and was attached to the medical corps section.
Photo below of Reg Evans and a mate in the Artillery. Reg is on the left
Reg and his unit left Alexandria Egypt on the 3rd June 1916 and proceeded to France, disembarking at Marseilles.
We arrived at Marseilles at 5am on Monday June 12th. A strong guard was at once placed on each gate. The wharves at this point are hemmed off with an eight foot steel brace and beyond these we were prohibited to go. There was a guard of eight on each gate to stop any person in uniform from going into town. Before long bogus fatigue parties were soon pulling guns and limbers through the gates. Once outside these gates we went around the corner out of sight the limbers etc were left by the roadside and the “would be fatigue parties” went their way into Marseilles. I had several hours in town and made the best of them. My first impression of France was a good one for I had a ripping time from all quarters. It was 11pm before I returned to the ship. To gain my way on to the wharf without being picked up by the picket I walked through some private property which led on to the wharf. Sitting on the gangway was the Brigade Major and Orderly Officer. They only asked me what the town was like and told me to slip on board while my luck was in. The following day we left Marseilles for an unknown destination at 2pm. After seventy two hours of very pleasant traveling we arrived at Le Harve where we were equipped with our guns.
The 4th Division Artillery would soon have their first experience of the Western Front in the Armentieres sector. On July 19th 1916 they would find themselves supporting the 5th Australian Division's attack at Fromelles.
We eventually commenced the bombardment at 11am lasting till 6pm when the fire was raised three hundred yards when the infantry went over the top with the objective of taking Fritzes first and second line of trenches...The order was given to retire. But to the dismay of the boys they found that the enemy was in his original first line while they were in his second, and to get back they would have to fight. They eventually charged and with the intention of getting back to their old position again and were very badly cut up. The whole stunt was an absolute failure. The worst part of it being that there were seven thousand and five hundred casualties among the Australians and nothing gained. All day of the 20th wounded were being cleared away as fast as possible. I having nothing to do went to Dead Dog Avenue and assisted in evacuating the wounded. The night was very quiet on both sides as was mostly spent in bringing in men from No Mans Land.
The 4th Australian Division Artillery soon joined up with their infantry in the Somme and provided fire support around actions at Pozieres and Mouquet Farm. They were then sent to Belgium for around six weeks before returning to the Somme battlefield. Reg was now serving with the 13th Field Artillery Brigade.
I had not been too well and about 5pm on December 10th I went to Trones Wood for some firewood. I had got about a cut of wood and was returning when a high explosive shell landed a few yards behind me. The force of the explosion sent me and the wood flying and I landed on my stomach some yards away. I was assisted to my dugout by two infantrymen and as I was not wounded I lay in my dugout all night. The following morning I was taken to the field ambulance and from there I was evacuated ticketed “Special Concussion”…I was almost helpless, being unable to move my legs, neither did I have any control over the organs of my body. I was cathiterised at the CCS and again at No.10 General Hospital at Rouen. The following morning I was seen by a doctor and diagnosed as contusion of the back and spinal concussion...Xmas day passed with no little fuss and preparations by the sisters and orderlies. The sister in charge allowed me to have anything I wished as a Xmas favour, but unfortunately I was not feeling fit to partake of many of the good things.
On the 27th December 1916 Reg left the 10th General Hospital at Rouen and was shipped across the Channel to England. On arrival he was sent to the 3rd Southern General Hospital at Oxford.
I was marked on the Blighty list again and at 6pm the same evening was taken from No.10 General Hospital to HMHS St Patrick, left Rouen at 10.am and arrived at Southampton at 10pm. The disembarkation took place next morning and at 10.30am I was on my way to Oxford where we arrived at about 2pm. We were given a light dinner on the train. From the station I was taken per motor ambulance to the base hospital of No.3 Southern Command and place in No.10 bed of No.7 surgical ward.
The next I remembered was on waking up the next morning about 8am. My first thing was to dispatch a cable home as follows “Slightly wounded, cannot draw send Commonwealth” Evans. I was also seen by the Medical Officer Captain Gandelson who assured me I would make a slow but steady recovery. A week passed by and I was treated well and all that could be done to comfort me was done. On the 7th January 1916 I was seen and examined by the MO again. He seemed much pleased by my progress. He told me the only treatment was long rest. The legs by this time were getting a little feeling. I was able to bend the spine a little but not to any extent. The bruising had almost all gone. On the ninth I received a very nice letter from Captain Cole the Brigade MO urging me to call on his wife at Brighton when I was at liberty to do so. He also made an offer of money asking me not to be backward in asking for money at any time I should be short. Somewhere about the 10th I was allowed to sit up in a wheelchair but forbidden to make any attempt to stand or walk…Miss E.C whose acquaintance I made in London while on field furlough came up to see me on the afternoon of Sunday 14th. She bought with her many cigarettes, cigars, fruit and some cake. I was very please to meet somebody whom I knew and could hold conversation with on subjects of interest. Slater Edmondson an ex Fremantle school teacher and his wife also called to see me the same afternoon…
Monday 15th I was taken out for the first time in a bath chair. I was taken out again the following afternoon and witnessed a football match and finished up at the club at ‘Mansfield College’ for afternoon tea. January 17th, the head sister allowed me to have a pair of crutches. I was able to take the weight of the body on both legs but not strong enough to take it on one leg while I took a step forward. The afternoon was dull and I stayed in the house and had a go with the crutches. I found it very hard tiring work. I was also given a daily pass from 2pm to 4pm but not allowed to get up till 1230pm daily. So having little to do to occupy my mind I made a start on a piece of needlework in silks.
The next afternoon I was in charge of a party of ten men from Surgical seven ward who were among a party of one hundred and forty men who were entertained by the children of Mr. Lynam’s schools. Each played their role to perfection in ‘A Mid Summers Nights Dream’. The entertainment was followed by tea after which the whole party returned to the hospital in motor buses. The people of Oxford are doing all in their power to give the wounded and sick as good a time as possible. Everyday there is an entertainment of some kind for the boys in blue. The picture shows are open free to the theatre matinees.
I was one of a party of ninety men from the local hospital who were entertained at a whist drive by the lady teachers from the local schools on the afternoon of January 20th. The whist was concluded at 4.30pm then tea was served. The tea was followed by an impromptu concert and two dances. All passes were extended till 6pm. Here I became very friendly with a young teacher Miss Case and before leaving I received from her an invitation out for the Thursday February 1st. The morning of January 24th I received a packet from base post office containing a diary and three letters from my sister now in Sydney on a holiday…I wrote a seven page letter to my sister thanking her for the diary etc and also teasing her about her dislike of Australians marrying in England and France…The past week had been very cold, the flooded fields had frozen and skating was in full swing. It was 2.30pm before I went out on Sunday 28th. I had not gone far however before I met Miss Case. Both having nothing particular to do, we walked together to the fields at the back of the ‘Christ Church’ College and watched the crowd of children and soldiers skating. The day was very cold and dry so to keep warm we walked round the frozen fields. The fields had frozen four days previous and skating continued for two weeks to come…The last skating at Oxford previous to this year was 1912 and only lasted two days. So one may imagine the state of the atmosphere. The morning of 17th February I finished the piece of needlework, commenced on the 17th of the previous month…I received a letter from my Mother bringing me the first news of my sister’s severe illness which took hold at Adelaide on her way home after her long holiday in NSW. I was indeed sorry to think that her holiday should send in such a bad way but more than thankful to know that she was doing well when the letter was written and to know that by this time she will be back to normal health again…Two days later I met Northover[1] of Fremantle and he told me he received a letter from his people telling of my sister’s sudden death. The shock was so sudden that I almost fell from my crutches, a lump rose in my throat that almost choked me. I don’t remember what I said to him or if I said anything at all…I bore up fairly well until one of a party giving a concert in our ward sang “God send you back to me”. This song brought reflections and I broke up. I rolled over in my bed burying my face in the pillows and wept. I could not refrain from thinking of feelings of my poor dear mother, for she must have heard news of my smashing up a couple of weeks after my Dear Sisters sudden departure, and I earnestly prayed that “God” will be with her and help her to bear up in this time of grief and trouble and sorrow.. The following day I received letters from home bringing the sad news. The letters from home were much brighter than I expected this fact made me feel a little brighter.
The following Sunday afternoon I spent with Miss Case who had done much to make my stay in Oxford as pleasant as possible. Monday 19th I was transferred from Oxford to Skelton Hill Convalescent Hospital. This hospital was in the residence of Arthur Mortimer Singer of the Singer Machine Company, a beautifully furnished Hall situated amid ninety acres of beautiful gardens and park lands. The patients here were allowed to wander wherever they chose on the estates. I was having electrical treatments and massage. This treatment made me sit up but did much good. I stayed here until Saturday March 3rd and reported to the base at Oxford and left Oxford by the 11.20am train to Kent. At Denham Station I was met by a small car and taken to Harefield Park Hospital. Two days later my crutches were taken from me and were replaced by two sticks. At first I was very unsteady and nervous but after a few days I began to manage fairly well. My opinions for the Australian hospitals had always been good but this one I am sorry to say changed my good opinion. Everything was dirty and ill kept, patients who were unable to help themselves fared very badly, the foot was eatable but not enjoyable and the whole staff were very tired, the Sisters especially. My praise for this Australians hospital is very little but of the English Hospitals, their staff and treatment I cannot give enough praise or put into words the many thanks I owe to the Hospital staffs and the English people as a whole, for all they did for me during my stay with them.
I was doing famous on the two sticks until the second day when going along one of the ramps which led from ward to ward they shifted and I fell with a heavy thud. This fall made me very sick for several hours but the next day I felt much better for the fall and from that day on I made wonderful improvements in the walking. It seemed that the fall sent back to its place something in the spine that had been dislodged by the concussion and twelve days later I was able to manage well with the support of one stick…The next day after I was boarded by Colonel Ryan. The same day I applied for 5 days sick leave to London for the purpose of seeing Dr. Blaxland of Fremantle who was at that time in London. This leave was granted…The five days passed very quickly. I called on Dr. Blaxland and family and several friends, returning to Harefield by the 5.10pm train from Paddington. Two days later I was sent on furlough with instructions to report to HQ’rs in London. On reporting I learned the result of my board and that I was going home.