This Day in History: 1974-10-18

Lieutenant Colonel Leslie Evans, who had been a prisoner of war of the Japanese and subsequently commanded the 2nd Battalion, died aged 71. Colonel RC Jackman recalled: ‘Uncle’ enjoyed parties and was very often the life and soul of them. Who will forget the look of utter astonishment on the face of the hall porter [at the Hyde Park Hotel, where Sirmooris were having a dinner] when ‘Uncle’ appeared in the foyer on all fours, clad in a lady’s fur coat and doing a passable imitation of a growling tiger!’.

Lieutenant Colonel Leslie Evans (right), then a Major, being greeted by Lord Wavell (left) on return to India from Japanese imprisonment in 1945.