Pte 38230 Bernard McEvoy

• Age: 26
• From: Dundalk, Ireland
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 20th Btn
• D.O.W Thursday 26th October 1916
• Commemorated at: Heilly Station Cem, Mericourt
  Panel Ref: IV.D.27

Bernard McEvoy was born on the 26th April 1890 in Chapel Lane, Dundalk, Ireland the son of John McEvoy and his wife Ann (nee Quigley). His parents married on the 27th April 1873 at the Catholic Chapel, Dundalk, father John a tailor living at Camp Street, mother Ann Quigley living at Bridge Street.

He enlisted in Liverpool and was serving in the 20th Battalion, The King’s Liverpool Regiment as Private No 38230 when he died of wounds, aged 26, on the 26th October 1916 following the Battle of the Transloy Ridges which was part of the ongoing Somme Offensive.

He now rests at Heilly Station Cemetery, Mericourt, France.

The 36th Casualty Clearing Station was at Heilly from April 1916. It was joined in May by the 38th, and in July by the 2/2nd London, but these hospitals had all moved on by early June 1917. The cemetery was begun in May 1916 and was used by the three medical units until April 1917. From March to May 1918, it was used by Australian units, and in the early autumn for further hospital burials when the 20th Casualty Clearing Station was there briefly in August and September 1918. The last burial was made in May 1919. There are now 2,890 Commonwealth servicemen of the First World War buried or commemorated in this cemetery. Only 12 of the burials are unidentified and special memorials are erected to 21 casualties whose graves in the cemetery could not be exactly located. The cemetery also contains 83 German graves. The burials in this cemetery were carried out under extreme pressure and many of the graves are either too close together to be marked individually, or they contain multiple burials. Some headstones carry as many as three sets of casualty details, and in these cases, regimental badges have had to be omitted. Instead, these badges, 117 in all, have been carved on a cloister wall on the north side of the cemetery. The cemetery was designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens.

His death was reported in the local press;

DIED OF WOUNDS

Private B. M'Evoy, King's (Liverpool Regiment) has died of wounds received in action. Previously to joining the colours he was employed by the Dundalk and Newry Steam Packet Co. His wife lives at 129 Towson street, Anfield.

[The Dundalk and Newry Steam Packet Company provided shipping services between Dundalk and Liverpool from 1871 to 1926]

Soldiers Effects/Pension to widow Mary Elizabeth Keating whom he married in 1916 at St Mary's Church, Liverpool. They had a son Bernard who was born in Ireland on 26th Nov 1916 according to the Pension record, just 2 months after Private McEvoy's death.

His Medal Index Card shows that he recieved the Victory and British War Medal which would indicate that Bernard did not serve overseas until after 1915. 

Their is also marriage record for his wife Mary Elizabeth who in 1921 remarried to Samuel Keating of Dundalk

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