South of England, 1941-42

Bill Evans of Grand Falls-Windsor, Nfld., shares a photo of his father, Bombardier Ian Hugh (Hughie) Evans, taken while he was serving with the 59th (Newfoundland) Heavy Regiment, Royal Artillery.

Bill says his father trained as a signaller, and in late 1942 transferred to the 166th (Newfoundland) Field Regt., which left the United Kingdom for North Africa towards the end of that year. “He fought…through North Africa and was wounded quite seriously just south of Tunis on May 11, 1943—just before the Allied victory in North Africa.” Bill says he has no idea where the photo was taken because it was only discovered after his father’s death in 1984. “On many occasions he told me that the 59th had been involved with the defence of Britain and that he had been in several places in the south of England before shipping off to North Africa.” Bill says for him, the photo shows “a young man enjoying life as a soldier…a young man filled with exuberance, full of vim and vigour.”

Bill, who belongs to Grand Falls Branch of The Royal Canadian Legion, says his father was a longtime member of the branch.

We thank Bill for his contribution to Find-Share-Discuss, and invite readers to share similar memories of wartime or peacetime service.