Evans, John William (Petty Officer, b.1915 - d.1973)

Places
Accession Number PR00904
Collection type Private Record
Record type Collection
Measurement 1cm (2 items)
Object type Copy, Diary
Maker Evans, John William
Date made 1940-1942
Access Open
Conflict Second World War, 1939-1945
Description

Original personal diary (and typescript transcript) of Petty Officer John William Evans relating to his service on the destroyer escort HMAS Nestor from November 1940 to June 1942. The diary covers the Nestor's journey to Britain in late 1940 (when Evans observed the German bombing of Portsmouth and Glasgow and the Nestor operated from Scapa); its escort duties with convoys and battle groups (including HMS Ark Royal, Renown and Indomitable) with other N-class destroyers (Nizam, Napier); its anti-mine, anti-aircraft, anti-submarine and fire support operations in the Atlantic, Mediterranean and Indian Oceans (including its sinking in the Mediterranean of a German U-Boat on 16 December 1941); and its own sinking in June 1942, at which point the diary ends. On-board conditions and activities are also described. The diary comprises daily entries, some (especially describing battle action) very full and detailed. There is a photograph of Evans on the front cover.