Pte
James Henry Evans
Information about birth
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Year of birth: 1891 |
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Place of birth: Birmingham, Warwickshire, England, United Kingdom |
General information
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Profession: Woodturner |
Army information
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Country: England, United Kingdom |
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Force: British Expeditionary Force |
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Rank: Private |
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Service number: 26684 |
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Enlistment date: 11/12/1915 |
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Enlistment place: Birmingham, Warwickshire, England, United Kingdom |
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Units: — Grenadier Guards, 4th Bn. (Last known unit) |
Information about death
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Date of death: 12/10/1917 |
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Place of death: Houthulst Forest, Belgium |
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Cause of death: Killed in action (K.I.A.) |
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Age: 26 |
Memorial
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Tyne Cot Memorial Panel: 9 |
Distinctions and medals 2
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British War Medal Medal |
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Victory Medal Medal |
Points of interest 3
| #1 | Place of birth | ||
| #2 | Enlistment place | ||
| #3 | Place of death (approximate) |
My story
Private James Henry Evans served in the Grenadier Guards 4th Battalion, part of the 3rd Guards Brigade of the Guards Division. The Battalion took part in what is known as the First Battle of Passchendaele on October 12 1917.
On the night between the 11th and the 12th of October 1917, the 4th Grenadier Guards and the 1st Welsh Guards advanced across the western side of the Vijfwegen spur towards the frontline near the edge of the Houthulst Forest. While moving up the men were caught in a heavy barrage of high explosive shells and gas shells. The shelling caused many casualties.
At 5.25 a.m, both Battalions advanced. The objective of the attack was to bring the frontline to within 150 yards of Houthulst Forest. The right company of the 4th Grenadier Guardshad to cover the advance of the 1st Welsh Guards. Accompanied by a creeping barrage, the Battalions captured their objective relatively easy with slight casualties. This time, the Germans offered little resistance and retired, but snipers managed to kill some men of the 4th Battalion who were advancing.
Around noon, the German shellfire died down, and seeing there were nog signs of a German counter-attack, both Battalions had the rest of the day to consolidate their position.
The total casualties of the 4th Grenadier Guards due to this attack amounted to 20 men killed, 4 men missing and 64 wounded. It is possible that private James Henry Evans was killed in action near the Hamlet of Vijfwegen either due to the German shelling while moving up to the frontline or during the advance on Houthulst Forrest. His remains were never recovered or identified. James Henry Evans is commemorated at the Tyne Cot Memorial.
On the night between the 11th and the 12th of October 1917, the 4th Grenadier Guards and the 1st Welsh Guards advanced across the western side of the Vijfwegen spur towards the frontline near the edge of the Houthulst Forest. While moving up the men were caught in a heavy barrage of high explosive shells and gas shells. The shelling caused many casualties.
At 5.25 a.m, both Battalions advanced. The objective of the attack was to bring the frontline to within 150 yards of Houthulst Forest. The right company of the 4th Grenadier Guardshad to cover the advance of the 1st Welsh Guards. Accompanied by a creeping barrage, the Battalions captured their objective relatively easy with slight casualties. This time, the Germans offered little resistance and retired, but snipers managed to kill some men of the 4th Battalion who were advancing.
Around noon, the German shellfire died down, and seeing there were nog signs of a German counter-attack, both Battalions had the rest of the day to consolidate their position.
The total casualties of the 4th Grenadier Guards due to this attack amounted to 20 men killed, 4 men missing and 64 wounded. It is possible that private James Henry Evans was killed in action near the Hamlet of Vijfwegen either due to the German shelling while moving up to the frontline or during the advance on Houthulst Forrest. His remains were never recovered or identified. James Henry Evans is commemorated at the Tyne Cot Memorial.
Sources 3
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4 Battalion Grenadier Guards , (The National Archives, KEW (TNA), WO 95/1223/2). https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C14303 Further reference |
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McCarthy C., The Third Ypres Passchendaele. The Day-by-Day Account, (London, Arms & Armour Press, 1995), pg. 113-119. Sources used |
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Ponsonby F., The Grenadier Guards in the Great War of 1914-19, (London, Macmillan and co, 1920, Vol. 2), pg. 261-265. Sources used |
More information 3
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Commonwealth War Graves Commission Database https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/1631397 |
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Namenlijst (In Flanders Fields Museum) https://namenlijst.org/publicsearch/#/person/_id=788a54d7-53ce-411d-8d93-04421053aa19 |
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Lives of the First World War (Imperial War Museum) https://livesofthefirstworldwar.iwm.org.uk/lifestory/1743611 |