Roger Evans (British Army officer)

Roger Evans
Born 9 January 1886
Died 22 October 1968 (aged 82)
Allegiance United Kingdom United Kingdom
Service/branch British Army
Rank Major General
Service number 23006
Commands held 1st Armoured Division

Major-General Roger Evans, CB, MC (9 January 1886 – 22 October 1968) was a British Army officer who commanded 1st Armoured Division at the start of World War II.

Military career

Evans was born on 9 January 1886.[1] He saw service in World War I with the 7th Hussars and then on the General Staff.[2] He became Commanding Officer of 5th Royal Inniskilling Dragoon Guards in 1929 and a Brigadier on the General Staff at Western Command in India in 1935.[2] He was appointed General Officer Commanding 1st Armoured Division in 1938 continuing in that role into World War II with the British Expeditionary Force in France[3] before relinquishing the appointment on 24 August 1940.[4] He was appointed General Officer Commanding Aldershot Area[1] on 13 March 1941[5] before being made supernumerary to the establishment on 9 January 1943.[6]

He retired from the British Army on 13 October 1944.[7]

Honours and decorations

Evans was awarded the Military Cross (MC) in 1918.[1] His citation read:[8]

For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. This officer led the leading squadron with consummate skill and dash over unknown and difficult country. At dusk he took up a position astride the enemy's line of retreat and succeeded in cutting off and

capturing the main portion of the enemy's force, which desperately attempted to break through during the night.

In the 1941 King's Birthday Honours, he was appointed Companion of the Order of the Bath (CB).[9]

He was appointed High Sheriff of Somersetshire in 1955.[10]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 "EVANS, Maj.-Gen. Roger". Who Was Who. A & C Black. December 2007.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Liddell Hart Centre for Military Archives
  3. ↑ Orders of Battle - September 1939
  4. ↑ The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 34939. p. 5389. 3 September 1940. Retrieved 2012-10-01.
  5. ↑ The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 35126. p. 1952. 1 April 1941. Retrieved 2012-10-01.
  6. ↑ The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 35903. p. 805. 12 February 1943. Retrieved 2012-10-01.
  7. ↑ The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 36743. p. 4675. 10 October 1944. Retrieved 2012-10-01.
  8. ↑ The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 30901. p. 10947. 13 September 1918. Retrieved 2012-09-30.
  9. ↑ The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 35204. pp. 3735–3736. 27 June 1941. Retrieved 2012-10-01.
  10. ↑ The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 40433. p. 1609. 18 March 1955. Retrieved 2012-09-30.
Military offices
Preceded by
Alan Brooke		 GOC 1st Armoured Division
July 1938–June 1940 		Succeeded by
Willoughby Norrie