Gunner Wilfred R Evans

Wilfred Richard Evans was born in Llansamlet, Swansea to William Evans and Mary Rowe. Wilf was the youngest of four children; his siblings were Sidney, Iris and Olive. Their father died when Wilf was five and their mother when he was 14.

Initially supported by his elder sisters, Wilf ran away to sea and became a ship’s mate in the Danish Navy. As soon as war broke out, Wilf lied about his age and volunteered for the Royal Artillery. He was then selected for the 1st Airborne Division and saw action in North Africa, Italy and NW Europe.

By September 1944, he was part of E Troop, 3 Battery and was injured when his glider was shot down during the Battle of Arnhem. His injuries included a shattered knee-cap, broken nose and a fractured skull. Wilf was captured and force-marched to Stalag 4B near Kemnitz, where he was held until his escape with the help of a German guard, befriended on his work party. The route to freedom meant walking across most of Poland on his shattered leg in order to reach an American airbase.

On his eventual return to Wales, his injuries were considered so severe that leg amputation was diagnosed and he was admitted to Morriston Hospital where Wilf regularly hid in the morgue to avoid the amputee doctor, saving his leg and demonstrating his extraordinary will power and determination to beat the odds.

After a long period of physiotherapy, Wilf secured a position as a tanker driver with Regent Oils, successfully working within the petroleum and fuels industry until he retired.

One fateful evening at the Pier Hotel, Mumbles, Wilf met the ‘love of his life’, Glenys, whom he invited to join him on the ‘boys table’ breaking all their rules and so beginning the courtship that would result in their marriage at Swansea Registry Office on April 5 1954.

Seven years later, Wilf and Glen were the proud parents of Sharon, Keri and Julie, who revelled in their ‘famous five’ childhoods in Mumbles before moving to Killay in 1965, where the family were based for another 30 years.

On retirement and after many happy holiday visits, Wilf and Glen decided to move to Spain in 1995 but returned the following year to settle in Abergavenny.

Over the years, the family has welcomed in Andrew, Michael and Helen and extended to include eight grandchildren: Georgina, Olivia, Stephanie, Joseph, Harrison, Alexandra, Jessica and Lawrence and one great grand-daughter Ava, who all adored their ‘Pappy’ and whom he would delight in watching and teasing from Pappy’s chair or garden hammock.

A loving husband, father, grandfather and great grandfather, Wilfred will be sorely missed by all his family and friends. His love of life, humour and strength of character will live on in our memories and through the family line forever.