EVANS, Stanley Warnes (1893-1954)He was born on 15 December 1893 at Bourke, NSW, the son of Rev John McTaggart Evans and Mrs Mary nee Warnes. He was enrolled at Geelong College in 1905 and left in 1909. His entry address was St Paul’s Church, Geelong. He became a member of the Athletics Team of 1908 and had previously attended Geelong Grammar Preparatory School from 22 February to July 1905. His World War I enlistment record noted that he had spent 4 years in Public School cadets.
He enlisted (No 996) on 17 August 1914, and embarked for Egypt with the 5th Battalion on
HMAT A3 Orvieto on 21 October 1914, and Gallipoli where he was wounded, as reported in
Pegasus of August 1915,
‘He still has a piece of shrapnel in his lung. At present he is in England.’ His record reported his wound as a severe gun shot wound to thorax (right lung) on 22 May 1915 at the Dardanelles.
He was invalided to England on
HS Goorhka, and admitted to Manchester Hospital. He was then invalided home on
Star of England.
Pegasus of August 1916 further reported,
‘S W Evans, who was invalided home from Gallipoli and, we believe, still carries somewhere in his anatomy a piece of Turkish lead, though discharged, has re-enlisted and gone to France.’ He returned to service (No 14273) with the Australian Army Service Corps as a Driver, embarking on
Clan McGillivray on 10 May 1917. He served in France from 7 February 1918, and eventually returned to Australia, embarking on 23 March 1919 on
HMT Czar.
In 1934, he married Blanche Longworth Watkins and they had at least one daughter, Sandra.
He died 21 June 1954. His Memorial noted him as of 'Thoomee Park', Lancefield, husband of Blanche and father of Sandra.
His brother,
Norman McTaggart Evans (1892-1961), was also educated at Geelong College.
Sources: Corfield and Persse, Geelong Grammarians Vol 1 1855-1913 p609; Based on an edited extract from Geelong Collegians at the Great War compiled by James Affleck; p.188 (citing Pegasus; National Archives).