Everist, Anthony Maurice

Date of birth:: October 31st, 1912 (Christchurch/Canterbury, New Zealand)
Service number:: 5559
Nationality:: New Zealander

Biography

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Distinguished Service Order (DSO)

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:: Major
Unit:: 19 New Zealand Armoured Regiment
Awarded on:: December 21st, 1944

Citation:
"Major Everist's Squadron of tanks was ordered to capture the village of Perano on 18 Nov 1943. In order not to divulge the presence of New Zealand Forces prematurely, this attack had to be made with wireless silence, on short notice, and without preliminary reconnaissance. Owing to the soft muddy and difficult ground, the selection of routes became of paramount importance, but Major Everist, either on foot or with himself exposed through open hatches to accurate and heavy shellfire, made thorough appreciation and with fine leadership guided his tanks through the major natural hazards to the objective. In this he was undoubtedly mainly responsible for his squadron capturing Perano and forcing the enemy to withdraw across the Sangro. Later, after dark that evening while carrying out a recce on foot in an endeavour to locate some of his tanks which had not returned to the agreed rallying point, he encountered a German S.P. gun, which opened fire on him and his accompanying officer with its machine gun. Major Everist stood his ground and, with his pistol, shot the commander of the S.P. gun, which with its crew, started up and made off across the Sangro. The enemy then blew the bridge as it was hoped he would do. Major Everist successfully collected the majority of his tanks and supported the Indian troops who had consolidated in Perano. The success of this operation, which was a necessary preliminary to the Division's attack across the Sangro, was undoubtedly due to Major Everist's leadership and personal gallantry."