It was on this day (4 October) in 1917 when the heroic actions of Brigadier Lewis Pugh Evans of Abermad, Cardiganshire (now Ceredigion), would earn him the Victoria Cross.
His Heroic Act
His moment of bravery would come near Zonnebeke, Belgium, during the latter section of the First World War. Brigadier Evans would lead his battalion on an assault before coming under strong machinegun fire. It was here when Evans, then a Lieutenant-Colonel, charged the garrison and captured it by firing his revolver through the loophole.
Though severely wounded, he refused medical attention and continued to lead his battalion towards a second position through the sheer power of will and a boost of adrenaline. Evans collapsed from loss of blood only after completing this objective. However, he continued to refuse immediate assistance and instead instructed medics to tend to the many other surrounding casualties – taking himself to the dressing station.
Even after the First World War, he would continue serving in the army, only officially retiring in 1938 – twenty years after the “Great War” had ended. However, this retirement would be short-lived as he would return to service one year later, serving in the Second World War as a Military Liaison Officer at the Headquarters of the Wales Region and also with the Special Operations Executive in India. He would achieve the rank of brigadier.
After the war, he lived a long life before passing away following a heart attack on 30 November 1962 at the age of 81.
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Niklas is the founder, owner, manager, editor, writer, video creator, voice over artist, and so forth, of Welsh Histories. He is passionate about the preservation of Welsh culture; the rejuvenation of the Welsh language and the promotion of Welsh history. Niklas currently resides in Pune, Maharashtra, with his beloved wife.