Name
Thomas Edmund Evans
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
27/07/1917
20
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Corporal
113074
Royal Engineers
“L” Special Company
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 (Mons) Star, British War and Victory Medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
KEMMEL CHATEAU MILITARY CEMETERY
B.25
Belgium
UK & Other Memorials
Not on the Rickmansworth memorials
Pre War
Thomas was born in Rickmansworth in 1896 the son of George and Edith (nee Wallis) Evans. His father was a Publican and in 1901 the family was living 58 Peppercroft Street, Gravesend.
In 1911 they were at 40/42 Holland Street, Kensington with George now described as a Licensed Victualler and Thomas, age 14, still at school.
His army records give his occupation as Trade Chemist and that he joined his unit on the 31 st of August 1915, making him one of the first men to be recruited to the Special Companies.
He is recorded as enlisting in Chatham, Kent.
Wartime Service
Previously No 2244 the London Regiment.
The Special Companies of the Royal Engineers were created in response to the first use of poison gas by the Germans in April 1915. They were under the command of Major C H Foulkes and had a Depot at Helfaut. Technically skilled men were recruited and all were given the rank Chemist Corporal.
On the 4th of September 1915 the first two Companies comprising 34 Sections of 28 men were assigned to First Army for forthcoming operations. The British army used poison gas offensively for the first time at the Battle of Loos on the 25th of September 1915. After Loos the force was expanded to form a Special Brigade.
Thomas was killed in action on the 27th of July 1917, but in what circumstances is not known.
Acknowledgments
Malcolm Lennox, Mike Collins
