Name
William Douglas Eversden
10 August 1887
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
08/05/1915
27
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
41
East Surrey Regiment
2nd Bn. 85 Brigade. 28 Division.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 /15 Star, British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
YPRES (MENIN GATE) MEMORIAL
Panel 34.
Belgium
Headstone Inscription
N/A
UK & Other Memorials
Ashwell Village Memorial, St Mary’s Church Roll of Honour, Ashwell
Pre War
William Douglas Eversden was born in Ashwell, Herts on 10 August 1887, the son of Julius and Emma Eversden (nee Harradine) and one of eight children. He was baptised on 15 February 1899 at Ashwell at the same time as brothers Julius and Percy
On the 1891 Census the family were living in Ashwell where his father was working as a blacksmith. William was educated at Merchant Taylors School, Ashwell but sadly, his father died in October 1899, aged 46, and on the 1901 Census 13 year old William was living with his widowed mother in Church Lane, Ashwell, with brothers Julius, Percy and Harvey and was working as an agricultural labourer.
In 1911 William, his mother and brothers Julius and Harvey (then called by his second name of Cecil), remained living in Church Lane and William was working as a barrel washer for a brewery. His mother remained living in Church Lane, Ashwell after his death.
Wartime Service
William enlisted in Hitchin, Herts on 8 September 1914 and served in France as a Private with the 2nd Battalion, East Surrey Regiment, with the regimental number of 41 from 6 March 1915.
He was initially recorded as missing in action but eventually was presumed to have been killed in action on or since 8 May 1915 at Ypres. He has no known grave and his name is commemorated on the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial, Belgium.
Additional Information
His mother received a war gratuity of £3 and pay owing of £3 10s 5d. Pension cards exist in connection with both William and his brother Julius, but state that a pension was in respect of William only. These suggest that she received a pension of six shillings a week.
Brother of Julius Eversden who died on 23 December 1918 in Staffordshire whilst training with the Machine Gun Corps. He died from bronchial pneumonia following influenza and is buried in Ashwell. Brothers Percy, Harry and Harvey all served and survived the war.
Acknowledgments
Brenda Palmer
Adrian Pitts, Paul Johnson, www.ashwellmuseum,org.uk
