Samuel Evans VC (c. 1821 – 4 October 1901) was a Scottish recipient of the

Victoria Cross The Victoria Cross (VC) is the highest and most prestigious decoration of the Orders, decorations, and medals of the United Kingdom, British decorations system. It is awarded for valour "in the presence of the enemy" to members of the British ...

, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and

Commonwealth A commonwealth is a traditional English term for a political community founded for the common good. The noun "commonwealth", meaning "public welfare, general good or advantage", dates from the 15th century. Originally a phrase (the common-wealth ...

forces.

Early life

He was born Samuel Evens in

Paisley, Renfrewshire Paisley ( ; ; ) is a large town situated in the west central Lowlands of Scotland. Located north of the Gleniffer Braes, the town borders the city of Glasgow to the east, and straddles the banks of the White Cart Water, a tributary of the River ...

in 1821, the son of Anne and James Evens, a weaver. He initially followed in his father's footsteps as a weaver of

Paisley shawl Paisley shawls were a fashionable item of women's clothing in Europe during the late eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. Many were made of intricately woven and delicate wool, as well as examples being printed onto silks, wools, and cotton. The ...

s, but in September 1839 he enlisted in the 26th Regiment of Foot at Gallowgate Barracks, as 1535 Private Evens. He joined his regiment in India in October 1840. The regiment moved to China and he was part of the China War of 1842. In 1843 the regiment was billeted at

Edinburgh Castle Edinburgh Castle is a historic castle in Edinburgh, Scotland. It stands on Castle Rock (Edinburgh), Castle Rock, which has been occupied by humans since at least the Iron Age. There has been a royal castle on the rock since the reign of Malcol ...

and remained there until 1851. In 1852 he volunteered for the 19th Foot Regiment to serve in the Kaffir Wars in South Africa, with a new service no. as 2721 Private Evans, remaining Evans for the rest of his life. In 1854 he sailed to Varna with his regiment to serve in the

Crimean War The Crimean War was fought between the Russian Empire and an alliance of the Ottoman Empire, the Second French Empire, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, and the Kingdom of Sardinia (1720–1861), Kingdom of Sardinia-Piedmont fro ...

The Winning of the VC

He was about 34 years old, and a

private Private or privates may refer to: Music * "In Private", by Dusty Springfield from the 1990 album ''Reputation'' * Private (band), a Denmark-based band * "Private" (Ryōko Hirosue song), from the 1999 album ''Private'', written and also recorded ...

in the 19th Regiment of Foot (later The Yorkshire Regiment (Alexandra, Princess of Wales's Own)),

British Army The British Army is the principal Army, land warfare force of the United Kingdom. the British Army comprises 73,847 regular full-time personnel, 4,127 Brigade of Gurkhas, Gurkhas, 25,742 Army Reserve (United Kingdom), volunteer reserve perso ...

during the

when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC. On 13 April 1855 at Sebastopol,

Crimean Peninsula Crimea ( ) is a peninsula in Eastern Europe, on the northern coast of the Black Sea, almost entirely surrounded by the Black Sea and the smaller Sea of Azov. The Isthmus of Perekop connects the peninsula to Kherson Oblast in mainland Ukrai ...

, Private Evans volunteered to go into an

embrasure An embrasure (or crenel or crenelle; sometimes called gunhole in the domain of Age of Gunpowder, gunpowder-era architecture) is the opening in a battlement between two raised solid portions (merlons). Alternatively, an embrasure can be a sp ...

to repair a breach. He and another private went into the battery and leapt into the embrasure, where they carried out the necessary repairs under very heavy enemy fire. He did not receive the medal until 26 June 1857. He traveled to

London London is the Capital city, capital and List of urban areas in the United Kingdom, largest city of both England and the United Kingdom, with a population of in . London metropolitan area, Its wider metropolitan area is the largest in Wester ...

from

Edinburgh Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland and one of its 32 Council areas of Scotland, council areas. The city is located in southeast Scotland and is bounded to the north by the Firth of Forth and to the south by the Pentland Hills. Edinburgh ...

and was presented the medal in a ceremony in Hyde Park, receiving it personally from

Queen Victoria Victoria (Alexandrina Victoria; 24 May 1819 – 22 January 1901) was Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland from 20 June 1837 until Death and state funeral of Queen Victoria, her death in January 1901. Her reign of 63 year ...

. His Victoria Cross is displayed in the Green Howards Museum, Richmond, Yorkshire, England.

Later life

On 8 September 1855 he was severely wounded during the attack on Redan and after some time at Scutari Hospital was returned to Britain. He was discharged from the army, unfit for service, on 13 May 1856. It was while in hospital that he met a widow, Margret McNichol who had been invited to nurse at the Scutari Hospital by Florence Nightingale''Dundee Evening Telegraph'', 13 August 1898 and upon returning to Edinburgh they were married. Through various connections (and presumably a degree of fame) he acquired a job as lodge-keeper at

Holyrood Palace The Palace of Holyroodhouse ( or ), commonly known as Holyrood Palace, is the official residence of the British monarch in Scotland. Located at the bottom of the Royal Mile in Edinburgh, at the opposite end to Edinburgh Castle, Holyrood has s ...

, living in a charming lodge at the entry to

Holyrood Park Holyrood Park (also called the King's Park or Queen's Park depending on the reigning monarch's gender) is a royal park in central Edinburgh, Scotland about to the east of Edinburgh Castle. It is open to the public. It has an array of hills, lo ...

. In the 1870s he left Edinburgh and bought a shop in

Dumfries Dumfries ( ; ; from ) is a market town and former royal burgh in Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland, near the mouth of the River Nith on the Solway Firth, from the Anglo-Scottish border. Dumfries is the county town of the Counties of Scotland, ...

but this was not a great success. In 1888 he returned to Edinburgh, living in a humble flat at 332 Lawnmarket on the

Royal Mile The Royal Mile () is the nickname of a series of streets forming the main thoroughfare of the Old Town, Edinburgh, Old Town of Edinburgh, Scotland. The term originated in the early 20th century and has since entered popular usage. The Royal ...

. He died in 1901 and is buried with his wife Margaret in

Piershill Piershill is a suburb of north east Edinburgh, Scotland, in the shadow of Arthur's Seat. It is mainly residential, with local amenities including a large supermarket and filling station, bank, public library, optician, pharmacy, several takeaw ...

Cemetery in eastern

References

*''

Monuments to Courage David Charles Harvey (29 July 1946 – 4 March 2004) was a British historian and author. He is notable for his seminal work, ''Monuments To Courage'', which documents the graves of almost all recipients of the Victoria Cross, a task that took ...

'' (David Harvey, 1999) *''

The Register of the Victoria Cross ''The Register of the Victoria Cross'' is a reference work that provides brief information on every Victoria Cross awarded until the publication date. Each entry provides a summary of the deed, along with a photograph of the recipient and the f ...

'' (This England, 1997) *''Scotland's Forgotten Valour'' (Graham Ross, 1995)

External links

Darlington and Stockton Times
''(Edinburgh)''

{{DEFAULTSORT:Evans, Samuel 1820s births 1901 deaths Military personnel from Paisley, Renfrewshire Crimean War recipients of the Victoria Cross British Army personnel of the Crimean War British military personnel of the First Opium War Green Howards soldiers British Army recipients of the Victoria Cross