Name
David Evans
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
17/11/1918
40
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
T4/110404
Army Service Corps
Clearing Office
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
Not Yet Researched
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
GLASGOW WESTERN NECROPOLIS
P. 2586
United Kingdom
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
St Matthew’s Church Memorial, Oxhey, Glasgow Western Necropolis, Glasgow
Pre War
Born on 22 November 1876, David Evans was the son of Thomas and Ann Hills (née Hawkins) Evans of 7 Crook Log, Bushey. His parents married in 1862 in Bushey. His father died in 1895, aged 55, and his mother died, aged 67, in 1911.
At the 1881 Census David was aged 4 and living at Crook Log in Bushey with his parents and four siblings, William 12, Thomas 9, George 7 and David 4, Henry 2. William Hawkins is also shown as a lodger.
By the 1891 Census the family had moved to Fitz Place, London Road, Bushey and Thomas (aged 19) was living with his parents and siblings George (17), Daniel (14), Henry (12), Alfred (8) and Charles (4). William was no longer present. There is no sign of the family in the area at the 1901 Census.
David enlisted in Watford in 1894 for 4 years-service as Private 2916 in the Militia of the 4th Battalion of the Bedfordshire Regiment. He is recorded as being a labourer, aged 18, of Bushey, Herts.
He married Avis Augusta Elizabeth Payne in 1897 and on the 1911 Census they were living at 119 Paddock Terrace, Lower Paddock Road, New Bushey, Watford. The family included six children; Wallace (13), Ruby Augusta (9), William Thomas George (8), Arthur Henry Cyril (6), David (4) and Olive (1). David was aged 33 and employed as a farm labourer. It is believed that the child’s name of ‘David’ is incorrectly recorded and, based on David’s pension record, should be John Frederick.
Wartime Service
David re-attested as Private T4/110404 on 31 May 1915 at Aldershot, Hants, for Short Service (Duration of the War) in the Clearing Office, Army Service Corps, having previously done four years of military training. His occupation was given as a labourer, aged 37, of Oxhey, Herts.
He served at Home between 31 May and 24 June 1915 before serving with the B.E.F. in France from 25 June 1915 to 11 November 1918. He was repatriated from 12 November 1918 and died on 17 November, aged 40, at the 3rd Scottish General Hospital, Stabhill, Glasgow from broncho-pneumonia contracted whilst on active service.
He is remembered with honour at the Glasgow Western Necropolis and is commemorated at St Matthew’s Church, Oxhey.
His pension card gives his dependant as his widow, Avis Augusta Elizabeth, of 6 Caroline Cottages, Capel Road, Oxhey, Herts. and includes three children; Arthur Henry Cyril (b 30/09/1904), John Frederick (b 21/04/1906) and Avis Olive Margaret (b 27/04/1909).
Additional Information
His younger brother, Charles Albert Evans, also died in France on 24 December 1917. Information provided with the kind permission of Bushey First World War Commemoration Project – Please visit www.busheyworldwarone.org.uk. Additional information also drawn from the Our Watford History website - please visit www.ourwatfordhistory.org.uk
Acknowledgments
Andrew Palmer
Dianne Payne - www.busheyworldwarone.org.uk, Jonty Wild
