LEST WE FORGET
Aircraftman Class 1 John Brynmor EVANS
Service No: 27026
Born: Mount Gambier SA, 6 May 1918
Enlisted in the RAAF: 9 July 1940
Unit: No.1 Squadron, Java
Died: Ground Battle, Java, 28 February 1942, Aged 24 Years
Buried: Unrecovered
CWGC Additional Information: Son of Bert and Nance Evans, of Lockleys, South Australia.
Roll of Honour: Unknown
Remembered: Column 422, Singapore Memorial, Singapore
Remembered: Panel 97, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT
Remembered: World War II Honour Roll, National War Memorial of SA, North Terrace, Adelaide
During the night of 28 February/1 March 1942, during an initial landing by the Japanese in the area, Aircraftman Class 1 Evans, a Radio Mechanic, was a member of a RAAF road convoy that was attacked by the Japanese near Tjilegon in West Java between Anjer and Serang. The only RAAF survivor was Aircraftman Class 1 Charles Dudley Potts (39872) (No. 8 Squadron) who died later as a Prisoner of War.
A search party recovered a number of bodies in a grave near Tjilegon and among them was the remains of Aircraftman Class 1 Forby who was travelling in the same convoy. Every endeavour was made to establish the identity of the others without success. It was though that Evans’ remains could probably have been amongst them but conclusive proof was not possible.
RAAF members lost at this time were:
Aircraftman Class 1 John Lundy Carter (43236)
Aircraftman Class 1 John Brynmor Evans (27026)
Aircraftman Class 1 Jack Forby (39764)
Flight Lieutenant Andrew Creswell Lewis (282675)
Aircraftman Class 1 Charles Dudley Potts (39872) PoW, Died: 24 June 1944
References:
Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour On-Line Records
Commonwealth War Graves Commission On-Line Records
Department of Veteran’s Affairs On-Line WWII Nominal Roll
National Archives of Australia On-Line Record A705, 163/109/67
Bibliography:
Hall, E.R. (Eldred Rayner) (O3341) Glory in Chaos, Sembawang Association West Coburg VIC, 1989