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WORLD WAR ONE

The Men Who Died

WORLD WAR ONE

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Wilfred was born in 1899 in Cleobury Mortimer in Shropshire. He was the son of Arthur John Johnston Evans, a labourer, and his wife Emma Barrett Evans (nee Coates), a dressmaker, who had married in 1879. Albert and Emma had 9 children with 8 still living in 1911.

Whilst the family were living in Shropshire when Wilfred was born, by 1911, the parents, with young Wilfred, had moved to The Common, Cathedine, Bwlch. Arthur is now listed as a clerk, Emma is still a dressmaker and Wilfred is at school. Two of Wilfred's sisters are in service in a nearby property.

Wilfred's brother Percy had joined the army in 1906 and served with the Border Regiment. He died in service in 1914 and his records show addresses for him at both Rectory Cottage and Well Cottage, Bwlch.

Wilfred enlisted in Brecon in October 1914 from 14, The Struet where he appears to be living with his brother Ivor Vincent Evans and is listed as a grocer. He initially joins the Brecknockshire Battalion of the South Wales Borderers (service no. 2622) and gives his age as 18 years and 4 months. He remains in Great Britain until June 1917 when he is posted to the Royal Welsh Fusiliers and embarks for France from Southampton, landing at Rouen on June 18th and posted to the 4th Battalion on July 8th.

Private Frederick Evans

Monmouthshire Regiment 1st Battalion, service no. 267451

Killed in action October 5th 1917, aged 40

Commemorated at Bethune Town Cemetery, Pas de Calais
France

Frederick was born in 1877 in Brecon, to Thomas and Elizabeth Evans (nee Williams). They lived at 36, Church Street, Llanfaes, Brecon, and Thomas was a labourer.

They subsequently moved to number 29, as this shows up in later census records. By 1891, Frederick, then 13 years, is shown as an agricultural labourer.

In 1911, Fred is still living with his parents, who are recorded as being married for 42 years and having had 14 children, eight of whom survived. There are five sons and one daughter living at home at this time, all single and with ages ranging from 20 to 37 years. Frederick is shown as a general labourer.

He enlisted in Brecon, joining the Monmouthshire Regiment. The Second Battalion of the Monmouth's joined the 29th Division as a Pioneer Battalion in 1916 and was involved in the three Battles of the Scarpe during the Arras Offensive of 1917. Frederick was wounded in action in France and died from his injuries.

Private Wilfred Easthope Evans

Royal Welsh Fusiliers 4th Battalion, service no. 235394

Killed in action on September 2nd, 1917 in Belgium

Burial Place at Zonnebeke, West Vlaanderen, Belgium