Pte
James Henry Evans

Informations sur naissance

Année de naissance:
1891
Lieu de naissance:
Birmingham, Warwickshire, Angleterre, Royaume-Uni

Informations générales

Profession:
Tourneur de bois

Informations service militaire

Pays:
Angleterre, Royaume-Uni
Force armée:
British Expeditionary Force
Rang:
Private
Numéro de service:
26684
Incorporation date:
11/12/1915
Incorporation nom de lieu:
Birmingham, Warwickshire, Angleterre, Royaume-Uni
Unités:
 —  Grenadier Guards, 4th Bn.  (Dernière unité connue)

Informations sur décès

Date de décès:
12/10/1917
Lieu de décès:
Vijfwegen, Belgique
Cause du décès:
Killed in action (K.I.A.)
Âge:
26

Mémorial

Tyne Cot Memorial
Panneau: 9

Distinctions et médailles 2

British War Medal
Médaille
Victory Medal
Médaille

Points d'intérêt 2

#1 Lieu de naissance
#2 Lieu d'enrôlement

Mon histoire

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.

Sources 6

"The Grenadier Guards in the Great War of 1914-19", Ponsonby F., London, Macmillan and co, 1920, Vol. 2, pg. 261-265.
Sources utilisées
"The Third Ypres Passchendaele. The Day-by-Day Account", McCarthy C., London, Arms & Armour Press, 1995, pg. 113-119.
Sources utilisées
Ancestry
http://home.ancestry.co.uk/
Autre référence
CWGC
https://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/1631397/evans,-james-henry/
Sources utilisées
The Long Long Trail
http://www.longlongtrail.co.uk/army/
Sources utilisées
War Diary Grenadier Guards 4th Bn.
http://www.nmarchive.com/
Autre référence