William Henry Evans, Age 26

Private, 6332 7th Battalion, King's Shropshire Light Infantry.

K.S.L.I Regiment Cap Badge.

William was the son of John Evans of 35 King Street, Dawley. William himself lived at Holly Hedge, Little Dawley; Henry had enlisted Shrewsbury into Special Reserve about early January 1913, he landed in France on 21/12/14 with 2/K.S.L.I. and was then posted to 1/K.S.L.I.

Henry was wounded about 30/09/15 with 1st Batt. at Morteldje Est., Ypres and on recovery was then posted to 5/K.S.L.I. He was wounded again on or about 15th-16th September 1916, going by the list of wounded he appears in, it is most likely he was with 5/K.S.L.I. Posted once more to the 1/K.S.L.I. then onto the 7/K.S.L.I. He was killed in action on the 5th of May 1917 following the 3rd battle of the Scarpe.

The 8th Brigade had attacked Bois-des- Vert after suffering from heavy shelling on the way up to the line mainly from Gas shells, the battalion had supported the Royal Scots in the 2nd wave of the attack at 4.45am, and after the attack they had dug in to consolidate the position.

William and Private Ketley of The Finger, Dawley had been asleep in the trench after the attack when a German shell exploded near them killing William outright and severely wounding Private Ketley. During this time the battalion had suffered 7 men KIA, 34 wounded and a total of 57 missing in action. William is buried in the Faubourg D'Amiens Cemetery at Arras in Grave IV.G.15.

Whilst tracing Williams records, I came across a bit of a mystery, on Soldiers died he is listed as Harry but on the Commonwealth War Graves site he is listed as William Henry but all other details e.g. his regimental number tie up together on both.

From the Cemetery Index.

WWI Medal Rolls Index Card, Note the wrong name on the card.

Commonwealth War Graves
Buried Faubourg-d'Amiens Cemetery

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Victory Medal	British War Medal	1914-15 Star Medal