COLONEL F. G. EVANS.

Taranaki Daily News, 12 October 1917, Page 6

COLONEL F. G. EVANS.

PRESENTED WITH LONG SERVICE DECORATION. ; Chaplain-Lieut.-Col. P. G. Evans, XI Regiment Taranaki Rifles, was presented at the Coronation Hall, on Wednesday evening, with the Colonial Auxiliary Fences Officers' Decoration for long and efficient service. About 60 members of A Company, under Lieut. F. N. Whitcombe, paraded, and \vere inspected by Lieut.-Col. F. T. Bellringer, officer commanding the XI Regiment. Among others present .were his Worship the Mayor (Mr, C. H. Burgess), Surgeon-Captain W. R. Wade, Lieut. A. Lister (commanding) and Lieut. C. D. Arnold (90th Company Senior Cadets), and Lieut. J. H. Mander (Expeditionary Forces), besides a few former members of the Taranaki Rifle \ olunteers and several returned soldiers.

Lieut.-Col. Bellringer, who made the presentation, said it was his pleasant duty to present to Colonel Evans the Colonial Auxiliary Forces' Decoration, which was awarded to officers after 20 years of efficient service, and which entitled the holder to have the letters T.D. after his name. Colonel Evans, he continued, had given considerably more than the requisite service, having- served for 5 years in the Thamtes Navals, 2 years in the Te Aroha Rifles, and 21 years in the Tarana&i Rifles and XI Regiment, which gave a total of 28 years, a record of which he might be proud. It was with mixed feelings that he made the presentation, because in doing so one had to refer to past services, and this recalled very vividly the names of officers who were prominently connected with the regiment in the past. Three of these who would never be forgotten were Col. Okey, Lieut.-Col. Malone and Lieut.-Col. Evans. Colonel Okey, who was so long in command of the regiment, recently died; he was respected by all who knew him. Colonel Malone, a born soldier and one of the most efficient officers, if not the most efficient, who left with the New Zealand Forces, died on the battlefield, leaving behind him a record which for many years would shed a reflected glory on the XI Regiment, and which would make every one of them proud to belong to the regiment. 'Proceeding, the speaker said it needed no words of his to echo Col. Evans' praise. All there knew him, and those who had been connected with the regiment for any length of time knew with what zeal and cheerfulness he had carried out his duties in the past. Hip name would always be associated with the XI Regiment, the one in which he took so much pride, and such interest in inculcating a, soldierly spirit. If ever there was a chaplain who had the heart of a regiment with him it was Colonel Evans, and his association with the regiment would always be treasured by the men, concluded Lieut.-Colonel Bellringer. He then pinned the decoration on the chaplain's breast, and on behalf of the XI Regiment expended congratulations and called for cheers, which -were heartily siven.

Mr. Burgess, in a brief speech, then paid a tribute, as a friend of 35 years' standing, to Lieut.-Colonel Evans. The speaker had not followed his military career, but knew that all his life Archdeacon Evans had endeavored to do good. Chaplain-Lieut.-Colonel Evans, in returning thanks, mentioned that, apart from the pleasure •with which he looked bnck upon his happy associations with the officers and men of the regiment, that night was a very sad one for him, because it meant the severance of his connection with the forces; in future he would be on the retired list. The news of this caroe as a surprise, the first notification he had received being a letter saying he had been put on the retired list, with the privilege of wearing uniform on occasion, and retaining his rank. One compensation, he continued, was that it was not done before he had his opportunity of doing his little bit on the hospital ship. As long as he lived he would think it the greatest of privileges to have served for twelve months amon? the most cheerful and lovable men in all the world. In concluding, Lieut.-Colonel Evans said that whether he belonged to the regiment or not, he would retain an undying interest in its welfare.