Arthur Evans
- Family History
- Military History
- Extra Information
- Photographs
Arthur married Emma Dring in 1911. Emma Dring was born in Mansfield in 1891 and was the daughter of William and Mary Dring. In 1911 the family was living on Ratcliffe Gate, Mansfield; Emma was working as a cotton doubler. Also in the home was Ivy Dring (1) who was also described as William and Mary's daughter. However, the WW1 Pension Register record shows that Emma claimed for three children, including Ivy Dring (b. 1909), so if not Arthur's child she was accepted as a dependant. Arthur and Emma had at least two children after their marriage; Arthur b. 1912 and Emma b. 1914. Emma married secondly William Chapman in 1918 and they had at least three children: Olive, Eliza and Gladys. The CWGC record gave Emma Chapman's address as 4 Jackson's Yard, Stanhope Street, Mansfield. In 1939 Emma and William Chapman were living at Railway Cottages, Bleak Hills, Mansfield, with their two daughters Eliza and Gladys. Emma probably died in 1963.
2nd Bn Lincolnshire Regiment Arthur Evans was killed on 9 May 1915 when a shell landed in the trench he was in. He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Ploegsteert Memorial, Hainaut, Belgium (Panel 3).
'The night before his death Arthur wrote to his wife saying he was into battle the next day and would let her know if he came out all right. He was killed by a shell dropping on his trench on the Sunday evening. His friend, Pte Parnham, wrote to his widow.' (source Mansfield Chronicle Advertiser, 03/06/1915). The Mansfield Reporter, 25 June 1915, published a report of a memorial service to Lieutenant Hollins which was held in St Peter’s Church earlier in the week. In addition 'The names of men in St Peter’s parish who have fallen were read over as follows: Lieutenant H Hollins … Private A Evans.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) WW1 Pension Ledgers index cards: Widow Emma Evans and children Ivy Dring, Arthur and Emma Evans.
