Canadian Personallities
Lieutenant-Colonel Thomas D.B. Evans (1860-1908)
Commanding Officer, 1st Battalion, Canadian Mounted Rifles
Lieutenant-Colonel T.D.B. Evans, front row centre, Commanding Officer,
1st Battalion, Canadian Mounted Rifles in South Africa, May -
December 1900, and of 2nd Regiment, Canadian Mounted Rifles,
February - June 1902.
At the start of the South African War in October 1899, Evans had just
returned to his post in Winnipeg from the Yukon, where he had commanded
the military force that kept order there during the gold rush. He was a
veteran of the Northwest Campaign of 1885, where he served with the
militia infantry. In 1888, he joined the Permanent Force infantry,
transferring to the cavalry in 1891.
He went to South Africa as second-in-command of the 1st Battalion,
Canadian Mounted Rifles (later renamed
Royal Canadian Dragoons).
Shortly afterwards he was appointed in acting command of the
2nd Battalion, Canadian Mounted
Rifles, when its commanding officer, Lieutenant-Colonel
L.W. Herchmer, suffered health problems. In August 1900, Evans was
confirmed in command of the unit, renamed the 1st Battalion, Canadian
Mounted Rifles. Under his leadership the
Canadian Mounted Rifles carried
out some very successful actions, including the seizure of a key hill
at
Leliefontein on 7 November 1900
that prevented the Boers from trapping a British force.
In 1902, he returned to South Africa in command of the
six-squadron-strong
2nd Regiment, Canadian Mounted
Rifles. Once again his command was very creditable, notably in the
action at
Harts River on 31 March 1902.
Some may have underestimated Evans because of his
open and very friendly manner, but he was an extremely effective
commanding officer. In the view of one modern historian, Evans was the
"outstanding Canadian soldier of his generation."