William James Evans
- Family History
- Military History
- Extra Information
- Photographs
William was the son of William and Ellen Evans (née Ward). His father William was born in Lincolnshire, the son of James and Harriett Evans. His mother Ellen Ward was born in Nottingham. They were married in 1885 (reg. Nottingham) and had nine children, two of whom died before 1911: William b. Nottingham 1887, Edith Harriet b. Nottingham 1890 d. 1892 (reg. Chesterfield), Florence b. Chesterfield 1891 d. 1905 (reg. Nottingham), Marion b. Chesterfield and Rose Ellen, John Fred (Fred), Edward Harold (Harold), Bernard and Daisy Winifred who were born in Nottingham. In 1891 William (27), a tailor, and Ellen (23) along with their two children William (3) and Edith (1), who died the following year, were living in Chesterfield with William's parents James, also a tailor, and his wife Harriett. The second daughter, Florence, was born later that year. William, a fitter wholesale clothing, and Ellen had returned to Nottingham by 1901 and were living at 55 Randolph Stret, Sneinton, with their children William, a confectioner's errand boy, Florence (9), Marion (6), Rose (3) and Fred (1). Their third son Harold was born later that year. William jnr. joined the army in 1907 and in 1911 was serving in India with the 1st Bn Sherwood Foresters. His family was at 40 Belle Vue Road, Blue Bell Hill Road, in 1911 where they were probably living when William enlisted four years earlier. In the home on the night of the census were William and Ellen with their six other children, Marion a lace hand, Rose, Fred, Harold (9), Bernard (7) and Daisy Winifred (3 months). Ellen Evans died three years later in 1914 (reg. J/F/M Nottingham). William jnr. married Ellen Kezia (also Helen) Swinglehurst at Nottingham Register Office on 26 July 1915 - he was serving in France between 5 November 1914 and March 1916 so must have been granted furlough - and they had a daughter, Winifred May, on 2 June 1917. They lived at 8 Stanley Road, Bluebell Hill Road. (For Ellen's family history see brother William Swinglehurst's record.) Ellen Kezia also died in February 1919 aged 30 and from information in William's service record it seems that his father became Winifred May's guardian. William snr. completed a form for the army in February 1920 naming his late son's surviving relatives: daughter Winifred May; father and siblings Bernard (16) and Daisy (9) of 50 Cornhill Road, Nottingham; brothers John Fred (20) of Nottingham and Harold Edward (18) serving [army, probably Sherwood Foresters]; sisters Marian Rose (24) [m. Kendrick A Rose 1914] and [Rose] Ellen Worthington (22) [m. Frederick W Worthington 1919] of 12 Vincent Terrace Nottingham. Wiliam snr. was living with his second wife, Elizabeth, in Nottingham in 1939 when the England & Wales Register was compiled. He died in 1947.
Sherwood Foresters, transferred to the Army Cyclists Corps (1384) then to the East Yorkshire Regiment (36444) William served initially in the Militia (Sherwood Foresters) but in October 1907 was given permission to enlist in the regular army. He attested on 17 December 1907 aged 19 years 3 months, in the Sherwood Foresters (2278, 10583) and in 1911 when the census was compiled he was serving with the 1st Bn in India. The surviving documents in his service record have no details of his service in India, but he was serving at home by October 1914 and then intermittently at home and in France until he was demobilized on 9 February 1919 and transferred to the Army Reserve on 10 February (dispersal Clipstone camp, Nottinghamshire): Home 3 October 1914-4 November 1914. France 5 November 1914-1 March 1916. Home 2 March 1916-10 December 1916. France 11 December 1916-10 May 1917. Home 11 May 1917-9 February 1919. Sect B Army Reserve 10 February 1919-13 February 1919. William was admitted to No. 24 Field Ambulance, France, on 16 February 1916 then transferred to No. 13 General Hospital Boulogne on 20 February before leaving France for England on 1 March 1916 (SS St David). He remained in England until 10 December that year. At some point, William was promoted to corporial and also transferred to the Army Cyclists Corps, possibly in 1916. However, on his return to France on 11 December he transferred on the same date to the East Yorkshire Regiment (corporal). He was promoted acting lance-sergeant on 18 March 1917 and confirmed in the rank on 4 April 1917. However, by May 1917 he was again in England, having been admitted to the Toxteth Military Hospital, Liverpool, with a wound or injury to his left shoulder. William remained in England until his demobilization in February 1919. William James died in Nottingham on 13 February 1919, three days after transferring to the Army Reserve, and was buried in Nottingham General Cemetery. He is commemorated on the Screen Wall, Nottingham General Cemetery (03266). He qualified for the 1914 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal.
William's brother-in-law, William Swinglehurst, his wife's brother, served in the Sherwood Foresters (19102 Lance Corporal). He served in France where he was wounded and taken prisoner. He died of wounds as a prisoner of war on 29 May 1918. (See record on this Roll of Honour) CWGC: 'Son of William Evans, of 50, Cornhill St., Hyson Green, Nottingham. Enlisted in Dec., 1907.' Nottingham Evening Post, 'Roll of Honour', 18 February 1919 (abridged): 'EVANS on the 13th inst. at 15(?) Hutchinson Street, William James, eldest son of William Evans, 50 (-) Street, also his wife Ellen K Evans, died February (-) aged 31 and 30 respectively. Funeral General Cemetery and Rock Cemetery.' WW1 Pension Ledgers
