Charlie Evans
- Family History
- Military History
- Extra Information
- Photographs
Charlie (also Charles) was the son of Thomas George and Sarah Ann Evans (née Clark or Clarke). His father Thomas George was born in 1854 at Pelsall, Staffordshire, the son of George and Emma Evans. His mother Sarah Ann was born in Huthwaite in 1858, the daughter of Charles and Mary Clarke. In 1871 Charles Clarke, his wife and their five children, Sarah, Lucy, Hannah, Eliza and Henry, were living in Huthwaite. Thomas George and Sarah Ann were married at Mansfield United Free Methodist Chapel in 1881 (reg. Mansfield A/M/J) and had nine children, two of whom died in infancy or childhood. Eight children have been traced on the census records, all of whom were born in Huthwaite between 1882 and 1898: George Wilfred, Norman Charles Henry, William, Arthur, Mary Emma birth registered 1889 (J/F/M) d. 1893 (A/M/J), Charlie b. 1892; Percy John and Lucy. In 1891 Thomas, a coal miner, and Sarah were living in Wrights Yard, Main Street, Huthwaite, with four of their five children, Wilfred (9), Norman (7), Arthur (4) and Mary (2). William (5) was recorded on the night of the census at Station Road, Huthwaite, in the home of his uncle and aunt, Arthur and Lucy Drabble (née Clarke). Charlie was born the following year. Mary died in 1893. By 1901 Thomas and Sarah had moved to New Street, Huthwaite; only five of their seven children were in the home on the night of the census: George and Norman, who were both coal miners, Arthur, Percy (5) and Lucy (2). Charlie was a visitor in the home of his widowed grandmother, Mary Clarke, at Sampson Yard, Main Street, Huthwaite. Also in the household were his brother William, a grocery apprentice, and Arthur and Lucy Drabble. From the information on the census William had been adopted by his aunt and uncle. Thomas and Sarah with their sons Arthur a coal miner hewer, and Percy a coal miner/pony driver, were living at New Fall Street, Huthwaite in 1911. William an assistant grocer, Charlie a boot shop assistant and Lucy, were living at Sampson Yard, Huthwaite with Arthur and Lucy Drabble. George had married Annie Mary Crooks in 1904 and was living with her and their three children on Barker Street, Huthwaite, while Norman had married Mary Shaw in 1909 and they were living on Carnarvon Grove, Sutton in Ashfield. Charlie married Sarah E Wood in 1915 (O/N/D Mansfield). Charlie's parents were still living in Huthwaite at the time of his death in 1917. They were living on Sutton Road, Huthwaite, in 1939 when the England & Wales Register was compiled. Thomas died in 1941 and Sarah probably died in 1947. According to a report of William's death in the local newspaper in 1916, two of his brothers were also serving in the army, one being Charlie.
'B' Company 2/8th Battalion Sherwood Foresters Charles enlisted in Mansfield, probably in 1916. He was killed in action on 26th September 1917. Charles has no known grave and is commemorated on the Tyne Cot memorial, Belgium (Panel 99 to 102).
Birth/Marriage registrations and Registers of Soldiers' Effects: Charlie. Charlie's brother William served in the 16th Bn Royal Welsh Fusiliers (19343 Lance Corporal) and was killed in action on 11 July 1916. He is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial, France. (See record on this Roll of Honour). Mansfield Recorder, 26 October 1917: ‘Huthwaite Sergeant Killed. Official intimation has been received of the death in action of Sergt. Charles Evans 306791 ‘B; Company 2-8th Sherwood Foresters. He was the fifth son of Mr and Mrs TG Evans, Huthwaite. Sergt. Evans enlisted in February of last year, and went to France just a year later. He leaves a widow but no family, and before he enlisted he was employed in Mr CH Coupe’s shop at Huthwaite. One brother has been killed in action [William], and there is another in the army.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) Registers of Soldiers' Effects: his widow Sarah E. was his legatee.