Name
Alfred William Richard Evans
08/01/1883
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
10/03/1915
32
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Rifleman
Z/1863
Rifle Brigade (The Prince Consort’s Own)
2nd Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 /15 Star, British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
LE TOURET MEMORIAL
Panel 44.
France
Headstone Inscription
He has no Headstone. He is Commemorated on the Le Touret Memorial inFrance, to the Missing.
UK & Other Memorials
St Matthew’s Church Memorial, Oxhey, Not on the Watford memorials
Pre War
Alfred William and Emily Evans was born in Holborn, London / Middlesex on 8th January 1883, the son of Alfred William Evans, a House Painter and Emily Eliza Evans (nee Wingate) of King’s Cross, London and one of three children who grew up in London.
His parents married 1882 in the St Pancras, London, district. Alfred died 1923 aged 67; Emily died 1927 aged 68; both in the St Pancras district. Alfred was buried 15 November; Emily 1 September; both in St Pancras Cemetery.
He was Baptised Alfred William Richard Evans on 6th March 1887 at Christ Church, Holborn Square, London, with his sister Edith Maud.
1891 Census records Alfred aged 8, at school, living with his parents and younger sister Edith Maud 4, in Handel Street, St George Bloomsbury, London, Middlesex.
By 1901 Alfred had left school and was working as a Wine Merchant’s Porter, living at home with his parents, and sisters Maud 14 & Alice 8, at 59 Compton Street, St Pancras, London / Middlesex.
His Service record indicates he served with the 7th Battalion, The Rifle Brigade around 1906.
On 29 September 1907 Alfred married Gertrude Annie Pengilly of St Pancras, London the daughter of Robert and Annie Pengilly, at St David’s Church, Barnsbury, Islington, London. They had three children, Rosina born in 1910, Alfred born in 1911 and Albert born in 1914.
In 1911 Alfred and Gertrude were living with their first child at 6 Woburn Mews, Woburn Place, Russell Square, London, and Alfred was employed as a greengrocer’s car man.
It is not known when Alfred and the family moved to the Watford area.
Officially recorded as born in Holborn, Middx. and was living in Watford when he enlisted in London.
Wartime Service
Alfred enlisted as a volunteer in London on 3 September 1914, stating that he had already served in the 7th Battalion, Rifle Brigade in 1906. At the time he enlisted he was living in the Watford area and his Occupation was given as a Carman.
He served as Rifleman Z/1863 on the Western Front landing in France in December 1914, he was declared missing and presumed dead at Neuve Chapelle in France on 10th March 1915.
He was entitled to the Victory, British War and 1914-15 Star medals.
He is remembered with honour at Le Touret Memorial in France. He is commemorated on the memorial at St Matthew’s Church, Oxhey. Gertrude and his children lived at 92 Villiers Road, Oxhey and Albert may have lived there too. Moving later to 77 Villiers Road, Oxhey.
Additional Information
Gertrude received a widows pension of 20/6 per week for her and the children. The value of his effects were £2-13s-8d, Pay Owing and £5, War Gratuity which went to his widow Gertrude and children. After his death his parents were recorded as living at 41, Sandwich St., King's Cross, London and his widow at 92, Villiers Rd., Oxhey, Watford. Information provided with kind permission of Bushey First World War Commemoration Project – Please visit www.busheyworldwarone.org.uk.
Acknowledgments
Stuart Osborne
Dianne Payne - www.busheyworldwarone.org.uk, Jonty Wild, Sue Carter (Research) and Watford Museum (ROH online via www.ourwatfordhistory.org.uk)
