Name
Walter George Evans
29 May 1879
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
14/12/1917
38
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Second Lieutenant
Norfolk Regiment
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 (Mons) Star, British War and Victory Medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
HARPENDEN (ST. NICHOLAS) CHURCHYARD
M.M. 9.
United Kingdom
Headstone Inscription
No Report
UK & Other Memorials
Not on the Harpenden memorials
Pre War
Walter George was born on 29 May 1879 in Houghton Regis, Bedfordshire to Joseph Evans, agricultural labourer, and Elizabeth (nee Burt). He was the second eldest son of the Family who were living on the High Street, Houghton Regis.
On the 1891 Census the Family had moved to Chobham Street, Luton and Joseph was listed as a grocer. The Evans family later lived at Church Street, Luton. Walter enlisted in the Bedfordshire Regiment as Private 5773 in the 2nd Battalion (his serial number indicates enlistment about Jun/Jul 1897). 2nd Battalion were stationed at Bordon, Hants when Walter, now a Sergeant, married Florence Louisa Chisnall on 20 Dec 1905. The Battalion moved to Gibraltar in 1907 Bermuda 1910 and South Africa 1912. Having become a widower in 1910, He married Celia Dorothy Land on 20 Dec 1911 in Bermuda, Walter had again progressed to Quarter Master Sergeant.
Wartime Service
The 2nd Battalion were at Roberts Heights near Pretoria (South Africa) at the outbreak of war and were immediately recalled to England, landing at Southampton on 19 September 1914,and almost immediately departing for Zeebrugge, Belgium, landing on 7 Oct 1914 and then marching south to join the rest of the B.E.F. on the Ypres/Menin Road on 18 Oct 1914.
Walter had been commissioned as 2nd Lieutenant in 1st Battalion Norfolk Regiment on 17 Oct 1914. Walter served until 1916 with the Norfolk Regiment until, when being no longer fit for service he was awarded his Silver War Badge (no 2053) on 11 Oct 1916. He died on 14 Dec 1917 and is buried in Harpenden Cemetery. His address was given as Cooters End House, Harpenden.
Additional Information
Probate of £418 1s 3d was granted to his widow.
Walter has a personal headstone (not CWGC) which reads:
"In Loving Memory Of My Dear Husband Walter George Evans 2nd Lt Norfolk Regt Died Dec 14th 1917 Aged 38 Years
- The Will Be Done"
Acknowledgments
Neil Cooper
Jonty Wild
