Thomas James Evans was born in 1897 at Oswestry. He was the son of John Evans. His father was a musician and bandmaster of Oswestry Borough Band, he also worked in the railway works. His mother was Sarah nee Haycocks. There were four brothers – John, Herbert, Robert and him, the youngest. Their mother died in 1897. Thomas was then adopted by his mother’s sister Martha and her husband Aaron Jones, they lived at 18 Victoria Street, Oswestry – and next door to Martha’s brother, John. By 1911 they were still living on Victoria Street, Thomas was still at school but on leaving would start work as a shop assistant at Messrs. Phillips and Co., The Cross, Oswestry.

He volunteered in September 1914 when he was 17 years old, joining 6 Bn King’s Shropshire Light Infantry and leaving Oswestry with the first draft and went over to France on 24/25 July 1915. He was KIA on 1 July 1916 by a shell whilst in the front line in the northern sector of the Ypres Salient. He is buried in Vlamertinghe Military Cemetery, he is also commemorated on St Oswald’s Church war memorial, Oswestry.

He is buried next to Pte John Bickley from Gobowen (CWGC).

Acknowledgements.

Photos: Louise Culliford

References and Sources

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