Name
Charles Albert Evans
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
24/12/1917
31
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Gunner
125053
Royal Garrison Artillery
308th Siege Battery
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
HAZEBROUCK COMMUNAL CEMETERY
Plot III, Row C, Grave 20.
France
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
Watford Borough Roll of Honour,
Not on the Bushey memorials
Pre War
Born in Bushey in the last quarter of 1886 (recorded in Watford registration district), Charles Albert Evans was the son of Thomas and Ann Hills (née Hawkins) Evans.
His parents married 27 December 1862 at St James’, Bushey, Herts. Thomas died 1895 in Bushey aged 55, and was buried 7 January at St James’, Bushey; Ann died 1911 in Bushey aged 67, and was buried 5 April, also at St James.
Charles was born 8 November 1886 in Bushey, and baptised 28 November 1886 at St James’, Bushey. He married 1 April 1907 at St James’, Bushey; they had two children. He resided in Oxhey, Herts. Rebecca remarried 5 August 1922 at St Matthew’s, Oxhey, to John SHEWBRIDGE; she died 24 July 1974 in Bushey aged 86, and was buried 30 July in Vicarage Road Cemetery, Watford.
At the 1891 Census, he was aged 4 and living in Bushey with his parents and five siblings. By the time of the 1901 Census, he was still living in Bushey with his widowed mother and two siblings. He was recorded as a golf caddie, aged 14.
Charles married a Rebekah Hall in 1907 (recorded Q2 1907 in Watford district) and they lived with Charles’ widowed mother at 7 Crook Log, Bushey until she died in 1911. Charles’ pension record gives Rebekah’s name as Rebecca and 07/10/1887 as her date of birth. Charles and Rebecca had two sons, Charles Frederick (b 27/06/1907) and William (b 29/01/1910), both recorded in the Watford registration district.
At the 1911 Census, Charles, Rebecca and the two children were recorded as visitors at 7, Crook Log, Bushey. Charles’ mother had just died and Sarah Ann Evans, aged 20, is shown as the Head of the Household. Charles is recorded as a bricklayer’s labourer, aged 24.
Wartime Service
Charles enlisted in Watford as Gunner 125053 in the Royal Garrison Artillery, 308th Siege Battery, and served on the Western Front. He died on 24 December 1917 at 15 Casualty Clearing Station. and is remembered with honour at Hazebrouck Communal Cemetery in France.
He was entitled to the Victory and British War medals
Although he lived all his life in Bushey, his name is not recorded on any local memorial.
Additional Information
Unfortunately, Charles’ Service Record appears to be one that did not survive the World War Two bombing.
His brother David died 17 November 1918; his nephew William died 28 January 1919; both feature on this Roll of Honour
Acknowledgments
Andrew Palmer
Sue Carter (Research) and Watford Museum (ROH on line via www.ourwatfordhistory.org.uk)
