Orders, Decorations and Medals

A fine North-West Europe M.M. group of six awarded to Pioneer Sergeant W. J. P. Evans, 4th (Llanelli) Battalion, The Welch Regiment

Military Medal, G.VI.R. (3958804 A/Sjt. W. J. P. Evans, Welch. R.) official correction to middle initial; 1939-45 Star; France and Germany Star; Defence and War Medals; Efficiency Medal, Territorial, G.VI.R., with additional service bar (3958804 Cpl. W. J. P. Evans, M.M. Welch) mounted as worn, very fine (6) £2000-2500

M.M. London Gazette 24 January 1946.

The recommendation states: ‘Sergeant W. J. P. Evans has been a Pioneer Sergeant of the Pioneer Platoon, 4th Bn. The Welch Regiment, since the battalion’s arrival in Normandy. Throughout the campaign Sergeant Evans has set his platoon a high example of cool courage and fearless determination in successfully carrying out numerous hazardous tasks in connection with the laying of mines, and the lifting of enemy mines, neutralizing enemy booby traps and demolitions and generally dealing with explosives. Many of the tasks undertaken by him were carried out under circumstances of great personal danger and when in charge of assault parties detailed for these jobs, he infused in them a spirit of cheerful courageousness by himself undertaking the most difficult and most dangerous part of the job.

His devotion to duty was outstanding, particularly on one occasion in REUSEL, Holland when an R.E. party had been badly injured by drawing a minefield, without hestitation Sergeant Evans took his assault section forward under heavy spandau and mortar fire, cleared the remaining minefield so that unit trucks were able to go forward. This leadership and personal bravery and disregard to danger was a magnificent example to the remainder of the platoon and was undoubtedly largely responsible for the successes which they have had throughout the campaign.’

William John Phillip Evans was born in Llanelli in 1907, when his parents lived in Andrew Street. In June 1946 the Llanelli Star reported that Llanelli’s two fighting units, the 484th S.L. Battery R.A. and the 4th Battalion The Welch Regiment, were to be represented in the Victory March in London by Sergeant William Evans, M.M., and Sergeant B. Browning, of the Welch Regiment, together with Battery Sergeant-Major W. R. Basil Evans, R.A. Sold with a copy of Images of Wales - Around Llanelli, by Brian Davies, in which Sergeant William Evans is mentioned.