  george evans vc (16 february 1876 &ndash; 28 september 1937) was an english recipient of the victoria cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to british and commonwealth forces. evans first joined the scots guards in march 1894, and served during the second boer war. he left the army in august 1902, to work for the nspcc, and rejoined in january 1915. when he was 40 years old, and a company sergeant-major in the 18th battalion (3rd manchester pals), the manchester regiment of the british army during the first world war, evans was awarded the victoria cross for his deeds on 30 july 1916 during the battle of the somme at guillemont, france: company sergeant-major evans volunteered to take back an important message after five runners had been killed in attempting to do so. he had to cover about 700 yards, the whole of which was under observation from the enemy. he succeeded in delivering the message in spite of being wounded and rejoined his company although advised to go to the dressing station. the return journey had again meant facing 700 yards of severe rifle and machine-gun fire, but by dodging from shell-hole to shell-hole he managed it.lewisham war memorials evans was captured following his vc action, and spent the rest of the war as a pow. his victoria cross, gazetted in january 1920, was the last to be gazetted for the first world war. he died 28 september 1937 and was buried in beckenham crematorium and cemetery.findagrave.com his vc is held at the imperial war museum in london. ==references==  *monuments to courage (david harvey, 1999) *the register of the victoria cross (this england, 1997) *vcs of the first world war - the somme (gerald gliddon, 1994) ==external links==  *[http://www.ho
1876_births 1937_deaths British_Army_personnel_of_World_War_I British_Army_personnel_of_the_Second_Boer_War British_Army_recipients_of_the_Victoria_Cross British_Battle_of_the_Somme_recipients_of_the_Victoria_Cross British_World_War_I_prisoners_of_war Manchester_Regiment_soldiers People_from_Kensington Scots_Guards_soldiers World_War_I_prisoners_of_war_held_by_Germany