7706 Private Thomas Oliver Evans was 19 years old when he enlisted in Sydney on 11 December 1917. Thomas was a wool presser, who had completed four years of an apprenticeship with a Sydney wool merchant. He lived with his widowed father at 32 Harrow Road, Auburn.
Private Evans embarked on the Runic in March 1918 and arrived in the United Kingdom in May, after a voyage of exactly nine weeks. He had several bouts of influenza while in training camps on the Salisbury Plain, then crossed to France and was taken on strength of ‘Auburn’s Own’ 13th Battalion on 19 August 1918. It was a time of fierce fighting and rapid advance, but Private Evans survived for the last two months until the Australian Infantry battalions were withdrawn from the line in early October 1918.
Granted leave to London from Belgium in March 1919, Evans contracted VD and spent 18 days total VD period in Bulford Hospital before returning to Belgium. During his time in London, Evans went AWL and had to forfeit six days’ pay.
Evans departed Plymouth in June 1919 and arrived back in Sydney on 8 August 1919.