David Evans
- Family History
- Military History
- Extra Information
- Photographs
David was the son of John and Elizabeth Evans (née Mousley). His father John Evans was born in Montgomeryshire, Wales, and his mother Elizabeth in Sandiacre, Derbyshire. In 1871 the family was living in Eastwood, where David was born in 1875 (birth registered J/F/M), probably the sixth of eight children. The family had moved to Heanor, Derbyshire, by 1881 when David was six years old, and he was still living in the family home on Heanor Road, Heanor, in 1891. He was working as a coal miner. David (20) married Betsy Marson (17 b. Codnor Derbyshire), the daughter of Charles Marson, at Cotmanhay parish church, Derbyshire, on 31 August 1895. They had at least six children born between 1898 and 1910: Violet b. Codnor Derbyshire and Charles, Mary Hannah, Walter, Betsy May and Arthur who were born in Heanor Derbyshire. Another son, Robert, was born in 1912. In 1911, David (36) and Betsy (34) were living at 41 Lee Lane, Langley Mill, near Heanor, Derbyshire, with their six children Violet (13), Charles (11), Mary Hannah (8), Walter (6), Betsy May (3) and Arthur (under 1 year). The later CWGC record gave his widow's address as 239 Valley Street, South Elmsalk, Pontefract Yorkshire. The Medal Rolls index card names the recipient of David's medals as his widow, Mrs B Hardy, of Barnsley Avenue, Conisborough, Rotherham. There is a record of the marriage of a Betsy Evans to John H Hardy in 1922 (A/M/J Hemsworth Yorkshire).
16th Bn Sherwood Foresters (Notts & Derby Regiment) David Evans died of wounds on 30 October 1916 and is buried in Etaples Military Cemetery, France (grave ref. VIII.E.16A). He qualified for the British War Medal and Victory Medal. CWGC - History of Etaples Military Cemetery (extract): 'During the First World War, the area around Etaples was the scene of immense concentrations of Commonwealth reinforcement camps and hospitals. It was remote from attack, except from aircraft, and accessible by railway from both the northern or the southern battlefields. In 1917, 100,000 troops were camped among the sand dunes and the hospitals, which included eleven general, one stationary, four Red Cross hospitals and a convalescent depot, could deal with 22,000 wounded or sick. In September 1919, ten months after the Armistice, three hospitals and the Q.M.A.A.C. convalescent depot remained.' (www.cwgc.org)
CWGC headstone personal inscription: 'He sleeps but in our memory lives' CWGC: gives rank as Rifleman, other records Private. Registers of Soldiers' Effects: legatee widow Betsy WW1 Pensions Ledgers Index Cards: His widow Betsy Evans of 11 Ebenezer Street, Langley Mill, was awarded a pension of 31 shillings and 3 pence a week with effect from 7 May 1917 for herself and her five dependant children Mary, Walter, Betsy, Arthur and Robert.
