Robert Courteney Evans was born in Oswestry in 1893. His father, John, was a wagon lifter working for GWR. Robert was his third son. Robert’s mother, Sarah, died in 1897 and his father re-married in 1900 to Mary Ann Dicken, they lived at 83 York Street, Oswestry. Robert’s two older brothers were John and Herbert.  No record can be found for any of the brothers in 1911 census although their father and step mother were still living on York Street. They would later move to Beatrice Street.

His obituary records that Robert worked in the machine and publishing department of the Oswestry Advertiser. It is possible that in 1911 he was in the army having joined a few years before, possibly as a boy soldier in the Royal Welsh Fusiliers, and had been discharged and returned to Oswestry. Alternatively, and more likely, he was a Special Reservist who was mobilised at the outbreak of war. He went over to France on 2 November 1914 as a draft joining up with 1 Bn RWF sometime between 5 – 11 November when it received drafts totaling 662 NCOs and ORs. (the same draft as Private 4424 Horace Cadman ).

He was KIA at the Battle of Festubert during an assault on the enemy line. The battalion casualties were 118 other ranks killed, 271 wounded and 164 missing, many of them killed by shell or smalls arms fire as they crossed No Man’s Land. His body was lost. He, along with others missing, were initially commemorated on a memorial cross on the battlefield. This was re-erected at Windy Corner cemetery at Cuinchy, where many of the battalions dead where interred. The names on the cross were later inscribed on Le Touret Memorial. Robert is also commemorated at St Oswald’s Church, Oswestry.

KIA Same Action Private 4424 Horace Cadman, 1 Bn Royal Welsh Fusiliers. KIA 16 May 1915, Le Touret Memorial (unknown)

Also – possibly but ID uncertain Private 3988 Edward Jones, 1 Bn Royal Welsh Fusiliers. KIA 16 May 1915, Le Touret (unknown)

Acknowledgements.

References and Sources

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