Lieutenant Arthur Frederic Evans

[Stephen Nulty]

Pals

My picture shows the window(s) in Prescot Parish Church dedicated to the memory of Lt. Evans, including the Eagle & Child, RAF and RWF badges. It states that he was killed at LAngre.

I'd be grateful if anybody could provide details of the story behind his death, or indeed any other background to Lt. Evans.

[Stephen Nulty]

Pals

My picture shows the window(s) in Prescot Parish Church dedicated to the memory of Lt. Evans, including the Eagle & Child, RAF and RWF badges. The window was paid for by his parents.

The legend reads "To the Glory of God and in loving memory of Arthur Frederic Evans, Lieut. 100th Squadron, Royal Air Force, born March 30th 1886. Killed at Langres, Octr. 30th 1918, and lies in Charnes Cemetery near Nancy".

I'd be grateful if anybody could provide details of the story behind his death, or indeed any other background to Lt. Evans.

[Dolphin]

Stephen

Lt A F Evans, a pilot in No 100 Sqn RAF (formerly 5th Battalion, Royal Welsh Fusiliers) was killed while flying in Handley Page O/400 C9728 on 30 October 1918. Lt V Mackenzie and Lt W B Warneford, who were also flying in C9728, were injured. No 100 Sqn was a night heavy bomber unit in the Independent Force, RAF, and was based at Xaffévillers.

I hope this helps.

Gareth

[Stephen Nulty]

Gareth

A reply within 16 minutes......what a surprise

Fantastic information, as always.

Many thanks

[Dolphin]

Stephen

The timing was lucky; I was just having a quick look at the Forum before switching off the computer and heading for bed.

Regards

Gareth

[eltoro1960]

Pals

My picture shows the window(s) in Prescot Parish Church dedicated to the memory of Lt. Evans, including the Eagle & Child, RAF and RWF badges. It states that he was killed at LAngre.

I'd be grateful if anybody could provide details of the story behind his death, or indeed any other background to Lt. Evans.

Name: EVANS, ARTHUR FREDERIC

Initials: A F

Nationality: United Kingdom

Rank: Lieutenant

Regiment/Service: Royal Air Force

Unit Text: 100th Sqdn.

Age: 32

Date of Death: 30/10/1918

Additional information: Son of the late Arthur Frederic Evans and of Emily Mary Evans, of Fazakerley House, Prescot, Lancs. An Architect.

Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead

Grave/Memorial Reference: I. D. 12.

Cemetery: CHARMES MILITARY CEMETERY, ESSEGNEY

The first RFC squadron to be formed specifically for night bombing, Number 100 Squadron formed at Hingham, Norfolk on 23 February 1917, and moved to France a month later. On arrival it was issued with modified FE2B two-seat pushers biplanes and operations against aerodromes, railway stations and rail junctions commenced. By the end of the year, No 100 in conjunction with No 55 Squadron, RFC and Naval 'A' Squadron had formed the nucleus of what was to become the Independent Force used for the strategic bombing of Germany with its Handley Page 0/400 heavy bombers.

Some pics below, try this website http://www.patrickwilson.com/RFC.html

[Promenade]

Stephen,

The following is taken from the Liverpool Scroll of fame:

LIEUTENANT Arthur Frederic Evans was born at Prescot in the year 1886, his parents being Mr. Arthur Frederic Evans and Mrs. Evans, of Fazakerley House, Prescot, both parents being members of families which for several generations have been intimately concerned with the public life of the district, his maternal great-grandfather having been the Rev. C. G. T. Driffield, Vicar of Prescot. Lieut. Evans was educated at Shrewsbury School, where he showed considerable ability with pencil and brush, and on leaving school he decided to enter upon an architectural career. He proceeded to Liverpool University taking architecture and general Art training, and here he succeeded in obtaining a Travelling Scholarship which gave him a period of continental study for his chosen profession. He was articled to Messrs. Grayson and Ould, of Liverpool, and upon becoming qualified as an Associate of the Royal Institute of British Architects, he practised under his own name in Liverpool for a short period prior to the outbreak of the war. At the fateful August of 1914, he was away on holiday, but immediately returned and with three friends of old standing at once enlisted in the 1st Battalion Liverpool 'Pals' 17th Service Battalion King's (Liverpool Regiment) on the 1st September, 1914, and marched out from Liverpool with this Battalion past his own residence to take up quarters in the Prescot Barracks, which were formerly the works of the Lancashire Watch Co., Ltd., and for several months he remained in his own town, until about six months later he received a commission in the 2/5th Royal Welsh Fusiliers, and took up duty with this Battalion. He then devoted himself to specialised duty and became Brigade Bombing Instructor, in which position his painstaking ability seemed to stand in the way of his being sent overseas. Throughout his service career he suffered considerable disappointment from the fact that he was continuously retained in England when he was desiring to proceed overseas with his friends, and in spite of his making application time after time for overseas service. He was just on the point of proceeding to Gallipoli when that place was evacuated, and after four applications for transfer into some overseas Battalion, it was not until June. 1917, that he was successful in transferring into the Royal Flying Corps. He again experienced the same difficulty in obtaining the opportunity of obtaining service abroad, for upon the completion of his courses for the Air Force, he was immediately appointed to be the instructor in the place of his own late instructor, and for some time he was engaged upon work where his ability for conscientious duty would fit him for instructional work, until at length, upon his own personal appeal for foreign service, he was permitted to go to France on the 2nd October, 1918. He became attached to the Royal Air Force Independent Force, and after being in France less than a month he was reported killed in action on the 30th October, 1918, less than a fortnight before the cessation of active hostilities upon the Armistice on the nth November, 1918. Lieutenant Evans was a man who was loved by all who knew him for his unassuming honesty of purpose and affectionate disposition, which caused him to form strong friendships among those with whom he came in contact, whether in his school life, his professional sphere or his Army duties. He showed marked ability in artistic work, his musical powers, sketching, and caricature being of great promise commencing from his school days, while he had that infinite capacity for taking pains that is the truest genius, and had he survived, his abilities in these directions must have sooner or later come to the front and gained him recognition. Among the members of his immediate family he was a loving and loved son and brother, who never asserted his own wishes to the detriment of others, and with the same spirit has he repeatedly pressed during his service of his country to be allowed to run the risks in active service, when by so doing he thought that he was doing his duty, even when he knew that he was considered to be doing useful service in the home forces. For more than four years he waited for his chance, and one short month in France called upon him for the sacrifice which he had so willingly faced for his country and those he loved. He was a true gentleman in every sense, and his passing leaves a great sense of loss among all who knew him. His Commanding Officer has reported upon the work in which he was engaged that "His work throughout with the Squadron was magnificent."

[Stebie9173]

Can't yet find promotion to Lt, but:

LG 16-7-1915

5th (Flintshire) Battalion, The Royal Welsh Fusiliers; Private Arthur Frederic Evans to be Second Lieutenant. Dated 17th July, 1915.

http://www.gazettes-online.co.uk/archiveVi...&selHonourType=

LG 22-10-1915

The Royal Welsh Fusiliers.

The appointments of the undermentioned Second Lieutenants bear date as stated against their names, and not as previously stated: —

Arthur Frederic Evans. Dated 14th April, 1915.

http://www.gazettes-online.co.uk/archiveVi...&selHonourType=

LG 15-11-1917

Royal Welsh Fus.—

The undermentioned Lts. to have pay and allowances of rank. 1st

July 1917: —

2nd Lt. C. E. Peck to be Lt. with precedence as from 1st June 1916, next

below Lt. A. F. Evans. 1st July 1917.

http://www.gazettes-online.co.uk/archiveVi...&selHonourType=

LG 1-4-1918

Flying Officers. —

29th Jan. 1918.

Lt. A. F. Evans, R. .Welsh Fus., T.F., and to be secd.

http://www.gazettes-online.co.uk/archiveVi...&selHonourType=

Steve.

[Stephen Nulty]

Back to the detail from Joe (Promenade). Isn't it sad to see that Lt. Evans spent almost 4 years trying to be posted abroad and then when he was, he lasted just a few weeks.

I'm sure he wasn't unusual in that, but it's sad, nonetheless.