A Collection of Medals to the South Wales Borderers

Four: Lance-Corporal F. Evanson, 4th Battalion, South Wales Borderers, who was severely wounded during the fighting for Hill 60 at Gallipoli, 21-22 August 1915

1914-15 Star (13078 L. Cpl. F. Evanson. S. Wales Bord:); British War and Victory Medals (13078 Pte. F. Evanson. S. Wales Bord.); Special Constabulary Long Service Medal, G.VI.R., 1st issue (Frank Evanson) good very fine (4) £80-£120

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, A Collection of Medals to the South Wales Borderers.

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Frank Evanson was born in 1893 in Crewe, Cheshire, in 1893 and attested for the South Wales Borderers at Newport, Monmouthshire on 26 August 1914. He served with the 4th Battalion during the Great War in the Gallipoli theatre of War from 19 July 1915.
In August 1915, the 4th Battalion, having secured their objectives at Damakjelik Bair during the attack on Sari Bair and also having fought at the Battle of Russell’s Top were to next be engaged in the bitter fighting for Hill 60, also known as Kaiajik Aghala on 21-22 August 1915. Hill 60 was an important tactical point assaulted by two Australian Battalions and the New Zealand Mounted Rifles in conjunction with supporting operations by the 4th Battalion, South Wales Borderers, 29th Indian Brigade and 5th Connaught Rangers. The attack was only partially successful. The Australians were held up and the New Zealanders who attacked from the South Wales Borderers trenches, found themselves clinging to a trench just below the crest of the hill. The 4th Battalion, South Wales Borderers had C Company in reserve and, under Captain Kitchen, was sent in to help the New Zealanders who were ‘hanging on by their eyelids’. They succeeded in covering the 300 yards of open ground and reached their goal with only six casualties. The company was placed on the New Zealanders right, holding about eighty yards of trench. Heavy short range trench fighting and bombing continued all night before, having exhausted their water, the battalion was relieved. Hill 60 had cost the 4th Battalion, South Wales Borderers 16 men killed and 71 wounded.
By 22 August the Battalion had lost over 400 officers and men out of the 775 who had landed on 4 August. Soon afterwards they were transferred to Suvla Bay.

Evanson suffered a bullet wound to his left thigh and was admitted to the 149th Field Ambulance on 22 August 1915 when his battalion was fighting on or around Hill 60. He was transferred to a hospital ship and then to the Military Hospital Citadel in Cairo before returning to the 3rd Northern General Hospital in Sheffield on 31 October 1915. He was discharged on 9 June 1916 after being assessed as medically unfit for war service and was awarded the Silver War Badge.