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3 mins read 29 August 2025“I was born in Liverpool, UK in 1932. Liverpool, being a port city, was the target of heavy bombing by the germans during the Second World War so I was evacuated to a village in Shropshire where I lived with a family for four years. After completing my schooling back in Liverpool, I emigrated to Australia in 1949 at the age of 17 years under the Big Brother Movement. This was a youth migration programme that brought young men from the UK to Australia, primarily to work in rural areas. After initial training at a farm in Sydney I was then sent to work on different properties in New South Wales.
I enlisted in the Australian army in 1955 and was sent to Kapooka, NSW for basic training. After completion of my training I was sent to 4RAR (Infantry Battalion) at Ingleburn and then transferred to 3RAR just recently returned from Korea. I earned the rank of a Lance Corporal and was sent to Canungra Qld for training in jungle warfare in preparation for deployment to Malaya. I re-joined my battalion in Canungra and we all departed for transport by ship to Malaya to fight the communist terrorists in the Malayan Emergency.
On our way to Malaya, we were struck by a tanker in the Timor Sea. Luckily on board was a team of royal engineers who were able to repair the ship so we could continue to Singapore. We were stationed in a jungle training camp in Malaya for about a month. After completion of our training, we were transferred to an area in the State of Perak and my company was sent to the township of Lasah. Our platoon was sent on patrol to engage with the communist terrorists who then fled into the jungle. For the next few months, we carried out patrols into the jungle to engage with the enemy. When we were not doing this, we were performing ambush duties to protect the Rubber Plantation managers and staff.
After my time in Malaya, I returned to Australia to complete my 3 year service with the army. During my service in Malaya, I felt I had contributed in helping to overcome the communist terrorists and I had also helped to keep the people who worked on the plantations safe. The army also gave me the chance to take on a leadership role as a non commissioned officer. I have three medals to commemorate my time in Malaya, namely the Australian Active Service Medal with a Malaya clasp, the British General Service Medal Malaya clasp and one from the Malaysian Government the Pingat Jasa Malaysian service medal.
I re-joined the army in 1965 and served for a further three years in Puckapunyal, Victoria where I achieved the rank of sergeant and served in a clerical position in the headquarters at RAASC. I finally left the army in 1968 and returned to civilian life.
I met my wife Shirley in 1970 and we married in 1972 and we have been happily together for 53 years. During our married life, we raised our family of two boys. I continued my studies and became an accountant and worked for various companies and legal firms in Sydney. I retired in 1998, but continued to work, in a volunteer position, as a financial counsellor for Lifeline for the next nine years.
We moved to RSL LifeCare First Fleet Village, Penrith in 2021 and continue to enjoy life in the community of this lovely village.” – Kenneth Evans, RSL LifeCare resident
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27 Retirement Living Villages across NSW & ACT
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29 Residential Care homes across NSW & ACT
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22 Home Care service locations across NSW & ACT
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9 Dedicated Veteran & Family Hubs, offering free support for veterans
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