Cpl
Henry Evan Evans
Information about birth
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Year of birth: 1897 |
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Place of birth: Carisbrook, Victoria, Australia |
General information
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Last known residence: King Street, Carisbrook, Victoria, Australia |
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Profession: Carpenter |
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Religion: Presbyterian |
Army information
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Country: Australia |
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Force: Australian Imperial Force |
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Rank: Corporal |
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Service number: 4181 |
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Enlistment date: 15/07/1915 |
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Enlistment place: Carisbrook, Victoria, Australia |
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Units: — Australian Infantry, 5th Bn. (Last known unit) |
Information about death
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Date of death: 20/09/1917 |
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Place of death: Glencorse Wood, Zonnebeke, Belgium |
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Cause of death: Killed in action (K.I.A.) |
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Age: 20 |
Cemetery
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Tyne Cot Cemetery Plot: LXV Row: K Grave: 3 |
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
Henry Evan Evans was born in Carisbrook in 1897. He was the son of Edward Malguyn Evans and Dorothea Evans. In addition, he had an older brother, Edward Malgwyn Evans, who enlisted in 1916 and would also die. Henry himself enlisted in 1915 and joined the 5th Australian Infantry Battalion, 2nd Brigade, 1st Division as reinforcement. Henry was killed on 20 September 1917, during the battle known as the Battle of the Menin Road. It was part of the larger Battle of Passchendaele. 2nd Brigade managed to take the German positions. Edward's battalion did lose 67 soldiers, 12 others went missing.
The final objective of 2nd Australian Brigade on 20 September 1917, was the capture of the western part of Polygon Wood. The attack was divided into the capture of a red, blue and green line. The role of the 5th Australian Battalion was to capture the area up to and including the blue line, which was roughly at the level of Black Watch Corner. The supporting artillery opened fire exactly at the appointed time and the Australians managed to take the German bunkers. According to the War Diaries, a number of soldiers moved up too quickly and were hit by their own artillery. Casualties also occurred on the left flank, where the German machine guns had not been deactivated. After eliminating the last pockets of resistance, the battalion was able to consolidate its positions around the blue line. German POWs helped carry off the wounded.
The Fifth Battalion's War Diaries describe the attack as a great success. The casualty figures paint a different picture. About a hundred soldiers fell victim to friendly gunfire and German machine guns also inflicted casualties. One of the casualties was Henry, who was killed at Verbeek Farm, near Glencorse Wood. He was reburied and currently Henry Evan Evans rests at Tyne Cot Cemetery.
The final objective of 2nd Australian Brigade on 20 September 1917, was the capture of the western part of Polygon Wood. The attack was divided into the capture of a red, blue and green line. The role of the 5th Australian Battalion was to capture the area up to and including the blue line, which was roughly at the level of Black Watch Corner. The supporting artillery opened fire exactly at the appointed time and the Australians managed to take the German bunkers. According to the War Diaries, a number of soldiers moved up too quickly and were hit by their own artillery. Casualties also occurred on the left flank, where the German machine guns had not been deactivated. After eliminating the last pockets of resistance, the battalion was able to consolidate its positions around the blue line. German POWs helped carry off the wounded.
The Fifth Battalion's War Diaries describe the attack as a great success. The casualty figures paint a different picture. About a hundred soldiers fell victim to friendly gunfire and German machine guns also inflicted casualties. One of the casualties was Henry, who was killed at Verbeek Farm, near Glencorse Wood. He was reburied and currently Henry Evan Evans rests at Tyne Cot Cemetery.
Connection to other soldiers 1
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Edward Malgwyn Evans
Brother |
Sources 4
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5th Battalion Australian Infantry, (Australian War Memorial, Campbell (AWM), AWM4 23/22/31). https://www.awm.gov.au Sources used |
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First Australian Imperial Force Personnel Dossiers, 1914-1920, (National Archives of Australia, Canberra (NAA), B2455, Evans Edward Malgwyn). https://www.awm.gov.au/ Sources used |
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First Australian Imperial Force Personnel Dossiers, 1914-1920, (National Archives of Australia, Canberra (NAA), B2455, Evans Henry Evan). https://www.awm.gov.au/ Sources used |
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McCarthy, Chris. Passchendaele: The Day by Day Account (Londen: Arms & Armour Press, 2018), 81. Sources used |
More information 4
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CWGC https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/462695 |
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Namenlijst (In Flanders Fields Museum) https://namenlijst.org/publicsearch/#/person/_id=f599430a-6211-4f4a-b6af-d699e878ff35 |
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The AIF Project (UNSW Canberra) https://aif.adfa.edu.au/showPerson?pid=92805 |
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Lives of the First World War (Imperial War Museum) https://livesofthefirstworldwar.iwm.org.uk/lifestory/7294567 |