William Henry Evans
- Family History
- Military History
- Extra Information
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William Henry was the son of Joseph and Emma Evans (née Jepson). His father Joseph, was born in Sutton in Ashfield, in 1870, the son of Thomas and Harriet Evans (née Haslam). In 1891 Joseph, a coal miner, was living in Sutton in Ashfield with his parents and his three siblings. His mother Emma was born in Stanton Hill in about 1873, and was probably the daughter of Edward and Mary Jepson. Joseph and Emma were married at Sutton in Ashfield St Mary Magdalene on 14 April 1895. By 1911 they had had eight children, seven of whom were still living: Ernest b. Sutton in Ashfield, William Henry b. Sutton in Ashfield 1897 bap. St Mary Magdalene 22 October 1897, Arthur Herbert b. Sutton in Ashfield, Samuel b. Bolton Yorkshire, Eliza Jane b. Danaby Main Yorkshire, Joseph b. Danaby, Mary Lizzie b. Brodsworth Yorkshire. Their fourth child, Harriet, died in 1903 (birth reg. Doncaster 1903) and they probably had another daughter, Louisa, in 1912 (reg. Doncaster). Joseph and Emma were living on Lord Street, Sutton in Ashfield, when their eldest son, Ernest was baptised in October 1895 and on Phoenix Street when William was baptised two years later. Neither Joseph or Emma, nor any of their children, have yet been traced on the 1901 Census but the birth of the fourth child, Harriet, was registered in the Doncaster registration district in 1903. In 1911 Emma, described on the census as 'wife', was living in Woodlands, Adwick-le-Street, Doncaster, with her children Ernest (15) a pony driver, William (13) a labourer, Arthur (11), Samuel (9), Eliza Jane (6), Joseph (5) and Mary (1). They were living in the household of Thomas Evans (b. Sutton), a miner, and his wife Harriet; Thomas was probably Emma's brother-in-law. Her husband Joseph has not yet been traced on the 1911 Census. William was living at Stanton Hill when he enlisted. Both his parents were his legatees and were living in Stanton Hill. Joseph probably died in 1933.
7th Bn South Staffordshire Regiment William Henry served in the Balkan Theatre from 11 September 1915 and was killed in action at Gallipoli on 10 December 1915. His grave was brought in to Azmak Cemetery, Suvla, Turkey (Gallipoli) after the Armistice (grave ref. I.E.6). He qualified for the 1915 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal. CWGC - History of Azmak Cemetery (extract): 'The eight month campaign in Gallipoli was fought by Commonwealth and French forces in an attempt to force Turkey out of the war, to relieve the deadlock of the Western Front in France and Belgium, and to open a supply route to Russia through the Dardanelles and the Black Sea. The Allies landed on the peninsula on 25-26 April 1915; the 29th Division at Cape Helles in the south and the Australian and New Zealand Corps north of Gaba Tepe on the west coast, an area soon known as Anzac. On 6 August, further troops were put ashore at Suvla, just north of Anzac, and the climax of the campaign came in early August when simultaneous assaults were launched on all three fronts. The aim of the Suvla force had been to quickly secure the sparsely held high ground surrounding the bay and salt lake, but confused landings and indecision caused fatal delays allowing the Turks to reinforce and only a few of the objectives were taken with difficulty. With Hill 10 Cemetery, Azmak recalls the northern part of the Suvla operations and the attempts to take and hold the Kiretch Tepi ridge and the high ground to the east. The cemetery was made after the Armistice when graves were brought in from isolated sites in the area and from the following smaller cemeteries [listed].' (www.cwgc.org)
William Henry's birth was registered in 1897 (O/N/D) and he was baptised in October that year, so was 18 years old when he was killed in December 1915; he probably enlisted under-age. WW1 Pension Ledgers Index Cards: names his father, Joseph Evans, of Stanton Hill, Mansfield. Registers of Soldiers' Effects: his parents, Joseph and Emma Evans, were his legatees.
