Medal for Military Valour (Al Valore Militare) awarded to Vice-Admiral Sir Alfred Englefield Evans, KBE, CB.

Evans was born in 1884 and entered the Royal Navy as a midshipman in 1900. He was promoted to Commander in 1917, Captain in 1924, Rear-Admiral in 1935 and Vice-Admiral in 1939. He served throughout World War I and was Mentioned in Despatches (Battle of Jutland). He was Chief of Staff, Africa Station 1927-9, Deputy Director of Naval Intelligence 1929-30, Captain of the Home Fleet 1930-33, Commodore, South America 1933-5 and Rear-Admiral Second in Command, 1st Cruiser Squadron 1935-6. From 1939-40, Vice-Admiral Evans was Commodore (RNR) of Convoys. His last appointment was Head of the Naval Technical Mission in Ottawa and Member of Supply Council (North America). He was awarded the OBE in 1919, created CB in 1937 and KBE in 1943. Vice-Admiral Evans died in 1944.

The medal is silver. On the obverse are the arms of Savoy within a wreath of palm and laurel tied in a bow with the crown above, surrounded by the legend ‘AL VALORE MILITARE’ (for military valour). Engraved on the reverse are two branches of laurel. The medal is suspended by a blue ribbon from a bar with five of Evans’s other medals: 1914-15 Star (MED1153), British War Medal 1914-18 (MED1154), Victory Medal with oak leaf for MID (MED1155), Jubilee Medal 1935 (MED1156) and Coronation Medal 1937 (MED1157). The Museum also holds the decorations and miniature medals of Vice-Admiral Evans.