John Evans

St. Hilaire Cemetery, Frevent, France

John Evans

Private No. 16514 D Company, 5th Battalion, King’s Shropshire Light Infantry.

Died of wounds in France 22 April 1916. Age 33

Buried in St Hilaire Cemetery, Frevent, France. I. A. 2.

.

Born in Wrexham in 1883.

Eldest son of the late Thomas Evans and Ruth Evans of Island Green Cottage, Wrexham.

Married Alice Williams of Higher Wych, Malpas in 1904.

Father to Ethel, John James, Thomas and Arthur.

The 1911 Census shows John as a farm labourer.

John’s younger brother, James, also lost his life in the Great War.

Report in the Whitchurch Herald 6th June 1916 regarding the death of John Evans

"It is with deep sympathy for the widow and four children left at the Higher Wych that we announce the death of that fine soldier, No 16514 Private John Evans, 5th Batt. King’s Shropshire Light Infantry.

Physically he was the finest recruit attested at Whitchurch. It is some consolation to his friends to know that he took part in the fight on the 20th April, in which the King’s Shropshire Light Infantry, added yet another achievement to their glorious records.

We give a letter from one of his officers, and there are besides many in the neighbourhood who can testify to the sterling work of John Evans, and he has an equally heroic brother to welcome him where he has gone.

.

"Dear Madam. – I am very sorry to have to tell you that your husband has been badly wounded by a shell, a piece of which hit him in the shoulder and back, and there appears to be some injury to the spine which I sincerely hope will not prove so serious as was first thought. He will be a great loss to us. His cheeriness and splendid comradeship and excellent qualities as a soldier have made him practically indispensable to the platoon. We all feel with you in your anxiety. – Yours faithfully  (Signed) E. G. R. Lloyd, Lieut 5th K.S.L.I.""