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William Rowland Evans
Mersey Z/792, Able Seaman, Howe Bn, 63rd (Royal Naval) Division
Killed in action, 26 October 1917, aged 24
No known grave
CWGC registered (Son of Robert and Catherine Evans, of Mount Olives, Augusta St, Llandudno)
William Rowland Evans, the son of Robert Evans and Catherine Evans was born in Llandudno on 26 November 1892. The Census of 1901 records the family living at “Mount Olives”, Augusta Street, Llandudno; Robert Evans was described as a joiner. William attended Lloyd Street National School which he left in March 1907. In 1911, the family lived at the same address, William (18) being described as a house painter.
William volunteered to join the Royal Navy Volunteer Reserve at the end of 1915, just before conscription was introduced. Why he volunteered for the navy is unknown but if he imagined that it might keep him out of the trenches, then his plan was thwarted because he was enlisted into the Royal Naval Division. The RND was an infantry division, formed at the outbreak of the war from Royal Navy and Royal Marine reservists and volunteers who were not required for service at sea. Following many losses, the division was transferred to the British Army as the 63rd (Royal Naval) Division, fighting on the Western Front until the end of the war. William Evans enlisted on 18 November 1915, given a service number of Mersey Z/792 and was trained to operate the Stokes gun, a type of trench mortar. He joined the Howe Battalion in France on 10 July 1916. He spent some time later that year at the infantry base depot at Calais for dental treatment and was evacuated to the UK on 22 January 1917 with cellulitis of the left foot and was admitted to Bethnal Green Military Hospital. He was drafted again for France on 11 September 1917 and rejoined Howe Battalion on 27 September 1917.
William Rowland Evans was killed in action on 26 October 1917, the first day of the Second Battle of Passchendaele, aged 24. He has no known grave.
Known memorials:
- Tyne Cot Memorial, Belgium
- Llandudno Roll of Honour
- Llandudno War Memorial
- Memorial Chapel, Holy Trinity Church, Llandudno
- Llanrhos Parish War Memorial, All Saints’ Church, Deganwy
- Tabernacl Welsh Baptist Chapel, Llandudno
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