Western Desert and East Africa Following the outbreak of the
Second World War, Evans was appointed, in February 1940,
brigade major of
11th Indian Infantry Brigade which at the time was part of
4th Indian Infantry Division in the
Western Desert Force on the Egypt–Libya border. The brigade saw action during
Operation Compass, achieving complete surprise to take the Italian defensive encampment at Nibeiwa. Shortly after this action 4th Indian Division was withdrawn to the
Sudan to meet the Italian threat in
Eritrea. In the
East African campaign the brigade saw action during the British counter offensive in early 1941 notably at Agordat and the
Battle of Keren. After Keren 4th Indian Division returned to Egypt in April 1941 and Evans was promoted to acting lieutenant-colonel and became
commanding officer of the 1st Battalion,
Royal Sussex Regiment, part of the division's
7th Indian Infantry Brigade. (his permanent rank having been advanced to lieutenant-colonel in June) and appointed
general officer commanding (GOC) of the
5th Indian Infantry Division. By mid-September the division had fought its way in appalling
monsoon conditions, over down the road towards Tiddim to cross the Manipur River when Evans contracted
typhoid and was evacuated to India. Three months later, having recovered his health, Evans resumed his service in IV Corps by taking command of the Indian 7th Infantry Division. By February 1945 the division found itself on the bank of the
Irrawaddy River where it executed what Slim later described as, "the longest opposed river crossing attempted in any theatre of the Second World War." Having consolidated its position the division passed to
XXXIII Indian Corps to advance down the Irrawaddy in operations which were later described by Slim as "...a brilliant piece of major tactics by
Stopford [the Corps commander], his commanders, and their troops." In June the division was moved to the Sittang valley to rejoin IV Corps to become the southern end of the Allied barrier formed to prevent a break-out by the remnants of the Japanese 28th Army. In early July the division fought a fierce four-day battle on the Sittang as Japanese forces attempted to distract attention from their planned breakout further north. The battlefield was a swamp as a result of monsoon rains with 7th Division often having to report floods, "too deep for Gurkhas to operate." When the Japanese surrendered in August 1945 7th Indian Division was flown into
Siam where Evans became the GOC Allied Land Forces in Siam until 1946. In August 1945 his permanent rank was advanced from lieutenant-colonel to colonel. During the Second World War, Evans was appointed a
Commander of the Order of the British Empire (1945), awarded the
Distinguished Service Order (1941) and
Two Bars (1942 and 1944), and
Mentioned in Despatches five times. In the
King's Birthday Honours of 1946, Evans was appointed a
Companion of the Order of the Bath for his exploits in Burma. ==Post-war==