Pte 21809 Evan Richard Ingram

• Age: 22
• From: Carnarvon
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 17th Btn
• Died Monday 4th December 1916
• Commemorated at: Kirkdale Cem Liverpool
  Panel Ref: Screen Wall IV.C.E.35

Evan Richard Ingram was born on the 01st September 1895 in Carnarvon and resided in Egremont, Cheshire. He was the son of Evan Ingram and his wife Gladys Mary (née Thomas) who were married on the 21st August 1893 at the Cathedral Church, Bangor. Evan snr was a 24 year old clerk of 4 Garth Terrace, Bangor. His father, Evan, was a deceased traveller, whilst Gladys was aged 19 of 14 Strand Street, Hirael, Bangor, her father, Richard, was a master mariner. Evan was baptised on the 07th November, 1894 at Llanfair-Is-Gaer, Caernarvonshire. 

In 1899 he was enrolled at Garth Infants Board School in Bangor. 

The 1901 Census shows the family living at 1 Tanypron, 1, Bangor, Carnarvon.  His father, Evan, is aged 30, born in Aberystwyth in 1871 his occupation is recorded as a solicitors clerk. His mother, Gladys Mary, is aged 25, born 1876 in Bangor. They had been married for 17 years and had five children, one of whom had passed away. At the time of the Census only two children were living at the address Evan aged 5 and Kate aged 3, born 1898. They also had three boarders living with them Alexander and Nellie McMurtie who were from Scotland and Herbert Reynolds a 17 year old male who was an apprentice electrical engineer.

By the time of the 1911 Census, Evan Richard is not at the family home. 

By the time of the 1911 Census, Evan Richard is not at the family home as he was probably at sea. A crew record in 1912 finds him working as a steward on the American Line SS “Haverford” serving the North Atlantic.

The family are living at 4 Pant Rd, Bethesda. His father, Evan, is aged 41, an accountant, his mother, Gladys Mary, is aged 36. They had been married for 17 years and had five children, one of whom had passed away. Kate is aged 13, Annie 9 and Ethel 5. Also present is Gladys’ widowed father Richard aged 75. A sister Margery Josephine was born in 1912 in Liverpool.

He enlisted in Liverpool on the 04th December 1914 joining the 17th Battalion of The King’s Liverpool Regiment as Private No 21809. He was billeted at Prescot Watch Factory, he trained there and also at Knowsley Hall. He was described as being 5’ 3” tall, with a 35” chest, and gave his father Evan as next of kin, at 41 Rudgrave Square, Egremont. On 30th April 1915 the 17th Battalion alongside the other three Pals battalions left Liverpool via Prescot Station for further training at Belton Park, Grantham. They remained here until September 1915 when they reached Larkhill Camp on Salisbury Plain. He arrived in France on 7^th November 1915.

His service record shows the following:

07.03.15 - Absent from tattoo, 3 days C.B.

15.03.15 - Neglect of duty, 7 days C.B.

05-07.04.15 - Breaking out of Barracks, 7 days C.B.

10-16.04.15 - Disobedience, breaking out of Camp, 14 days Field Punishment No.2.

20.05.15 - Breaking out of Camp, apprehended by civil police June 5th. Being in possession of stolen bike, deficiency of kit. 16 Days detention.

16.07.15 - Escaping from custody, stealing from comrades. 9 months detention, pay £1 3s for great coat. 

The stolen bike was reported in Carnarvon:

Caernarvon & Denbigh Herald Friday 27th August 1915;

LARCENY OF A BICYCLE - At a special Borough Police Court on Saturday, before Messrs David Roberts and Richard Thomas, Private Evan Richard Ingram. 3rd King's Liverpool Regiment City Battalion charged with the larceny of bicycle, the property of a man named Robert Rowlands, Crossing, Llanwnda. According to Superintendent Williams, who prosecuted on behalf of the police, the defendant was a deserter from his regiment. On the night in question (the 20th instant) he was walking through Bryner. The bicycle was outside a public house there. The defendant took it and rode it to Carnarvon, where he offered it for sale for 25s. The person to whom he offered it informed the police. P.C. Ellis (27) saw the defendant in Llanberis Road. He challenged him as to the ownership of the bicycle, and he admitted that he had stolen it. He (Superintendent Williams) said that he did not wish to press the charge unduly. When charged at the court the defendant said “It was a rather long way to walk, so I took the bike. I saw it outside a public house.” Defendant was bound over in the sum of £10 for six months to come up for judgment if called. Being a deserter he was remanded upon until the arrival of an escort.

His service record shows further details:

06.03.16 - Released from detention to duty with 22nd Btn.

01-03.04.16 - Breaking out of Camp, 3 days C.B and 14 days Field Punishment No.2.

01.07.16 - Embarked for France, posted to 24 I.B.D.

11.07.16 - Joined 17th Btn. in the field.

Evan Richard was badly wounded during the ill fated attack at Guillemont on 30th July 1916 receiving gunshot wounds to his forehead and arm. He was taken to 5 C.C.S.

He was evacuated back to the UK on the Belgian Hospital Ship “Jan Breydel” and sadly succumbed to his wounds at Fazakerley Hospital on 04th December 1916, aged 22. His relatives were present when he passed away and his father was handed his personal effects.

He now rests at Kirkdale Cemetery, Longmoor Lane, Liverpool and is commemorated on the Screen Wall. IV. C.E. 35.

There are 519 First World War burials in the Cemetery.

Screen Walls are a type of memorial for Commonwealth War Dead, they are predominantly used to record the names of individuals who have a known grave but where it is not possible to erect a CWGC headstone or the exact location of the grave is no longer known.

He earned his two medals.

His Soldiers Effects, Army Pay £3 2s 7d and a War Gratuity of £3 went to his friend and  legatee Agnes G. Jones, The Ash Trees, Market Place, Prescot.  A pension was awarded to his mother Gladys Mary, 41 Rudgrave Square, Egremont. 

On the 1921 Census at 7 Marshfield Road, Goole, Yorkshire, his father, Evan, is aged 51, now a chartered accountant, his mother, Gladys Mary, is aged 47, with Annie, aged 20, Ethel, aged 15 and Marjory, aged 8. 

On the 1939 Register at 38 Mount Pleasant Road, Willesden. Middlesex, his mother Gladys, date of birth 12th May 1874, is still married, is managing daughter Margery, a Radio and Variety artist.

His father, Evan died, aged 79 in 1949 in Ealing, and Gladys, died aged 76, in Willesden in 1950.

We currently have no further information on Evan Richard Ingram. If you have or know someone who may be able to add to the history of this soldier, please contact us.