Arthur Reginald Evans

Arthur Reginald Evans, DSC (14 May 1905 – 31 January 1989) was an Australian coastwatcher in the Pacific Ocean theatre in World War II. He is chiefly remembered for having played a significant part in the rescue of future US President John F. Kennedy and his surviving crew after their motor torpedo boat, PT-109, was sunk by the Japanese in August 1943.

Early life Evans was born in Sydney, New South Wales, on 14 May 1905, the oldest of three children to parents Stuart and Edith. Interested in being a sailor, after high school, he was rejected for a cadetship at the naval college in Jervis Bay, so joined as a senior cadet in the local militia instead, eventually becoming a second lieutenant. He sailed to the Middle East in 1941 with the AIF. When the Pacific war started, his unit was recalled to defend Australia. He was quickly assigned to serve in the secretive Coast Watch Organisation since his knowledge of the Solomon Islands meant he was of value to Naval Intelligence. Kennedy reluctantly returned with the scouts in their canoe, hidden under palm fronds, as Japanese planes patrolled overhead. On Gomu, Evans was waiting at the beach and around 6 pm the two met. He suggested Kennedy proceed to Rendova with some natives but this was rejected. The next morning, he contacted PT headquarters in Rendova and coordinated the rescue efforts via encrypted messages until PT-157 collected Kennedy. With Kennedy aboard, PT-157 rescued the other crew members on Olasana Island in the early morning of 8 August, after dispatching rowing boats to pick them up.

Post-war Evans continued in his service. He was discharged from the navy in Adelaide on 16 May 1946. Searches for him eventually narrowed the possible candidates, and his identity was confirmed after a congratulatory card he sent for the 1961 presidential inauguration was matched by a handwriting expert to the letter. Earlier, the scouts Gasa and Kumana had been invited to attend his inauguration, but were prevented from attending.

While in the US, Evans appeared on various TV shows and was interviewed by several newspapers.

After the death of Kennedy, the framed letter, and the famous coconut message, was sent to the president's library. He appeared in the 2015 William Doyle book, PT 109: An American Epic of War, Survival, and the Destiny of John F. Kennedy.

Personal life Evans met Getrude Slaney Poole, an amateur actress from Adelaide, who was working in the Solomons in the late 1930s as a secretary to a female lawyer. The couple married in August 1940, three weeks after he joined the army. Gertrude died on 24 June 1963, a month prior to the PT-109 film's Australian premiere. No mention was made of children in the funeral notice.

Evans later remarried another woman, Fran, who also predeceased him. He died aged 83 on 31 January 1989.

Portrayals Michael Pate (1963) - PT 109