Sgt 14932 George William Bevan

• Age: 23
• From: Stafford
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 18th Btn
• K.I.A Monday 9th April 1917
• Commemorated at: Neuville-vitasse Rd Cem
  Panel Ref: A.16

George William Bevan was born in 1892 in Hixon, Stafford, the third child of Isaac Bevan and his wife Mary Ann (nee Allen) who were married on the 17th Feb 1886 at St Peter, Hixon, Stafford. He was baptised on the 31st July 1892 also at St Peter, Hixon. Mary died in 1894. Mary’s death is registered in the same quarter as George's birth.

On the 1891 census the family are recorded incorrectly as 'Bevins', living at Pasture Fields, Stowe, Lichfield. Head is widowed Thomas Bevins aged 74 an agricultural labourer who was born in Colton, his son Isaac is 24, also an agricultural labourer b.Pasture Fields, his wife Mary is 23 b.Great Haywood, and their children born as 'Bevans' at Pasture Fields, Arthur 3 and Annie 1.

George has two older siblings Arthur b.1887 and Annie b.1889. At the time of the 1901 census, their father Isaac is working as a stonemason and is a boarder with the Hatton family at Meadows Yard, 120 Market St, Hoylake. The step-daughter of the house 22 year old Phoebe Maria Woods was to become Isaac’s second wife in the June of 1901 when they were married at St Mary, Birkenhead.

George and Annie cannot be found in this census but their older brother Arthur is still in Stafford and at the age of 13 is a boarder and is working as a timber merchants carter. Arthur goes on to marry in 1907 in Liverpool, moving to Hoylake and has children of his own.

On the 1901 Census after his mother’s death George Beavan is living with her sister in Great Haywood. Widow Jane Toy aged 53, a laundress b.Pasture Fields, her daughter Mary aged 17, and nephew George aged 8, both born in Pasture Fields. 

Isaac is recorded in the 1911 census at 5 School Lane, Hoylake.

He is aged 43, a builders labourer, and Phoebe Annie is 32, they have had five children Jane 8, William 7,  Ada 5, Thomas 3 and Harry 1.

There is no trace of George in the 1911 census records, but there is a G.W. Bevin serving as 3rd Engineer on the S.S.Manco in 1913, a cargo ship which plied her trade between Liverpool and Brazil.

He was employed by Watkins grocers when he enlisted in Liverpool joining the 13th Battalion of The King's Liverpool Regiment. He was at transferred probably after being wounded and was serving in the 18^th Battalion, The King’s Liverpool Regiment as Sergeant No 14932 when he was killed in action on the 09^th April 1917, aged 23, during the Battle of Arras.

Arras 09^th April 1917

Details of the circumstances the 18^th Battalion had to contend with are illustrated below:

The battalion formed the left assaulting battalion of the brigade, the 2^nd Wiltshire Regiment being on the right, the 19^th Manchester Regiment being in support and 2^nd Battalion Yorkshire Regiment furnishing “moppers -up”  for the two assaulting battalions. The brigade advance was timed to begin at ---- hour after “Zero”, suited to conform with the movements of 56^th Division and other divisions on our left further north (near Arras). This battalion’s objective was the front-line system Lion Lane on the left (exclusive) to Panther Lane on right (exclusive). This sector included the strongpoint known as “The Egg”.

The brigade advanced at prearranged time, i.e., 11.38 a.m, from position of assembly trenches south of Neuville Vitasse to German front line. This necessitated an advance across the open of at least 2,000 yards. This area up to Neuville Vitasse- Henin road was crossed in artillery formation; after this, owing to machine-gun fire and considerable resistance from German posts forward in the sunken roads, it was found necessary to deploy. During the whole movement across the open the advancing columns had been under considerable artillery fire from guns of all calibres. On gaining the position immediately in front of German line it was found that the wire was practically uncut; this wire formed two strong belts in front of German trenches. Two small gaps were eventually discovered and Second-Lieut H.F.Merry gallantly led a bombing party through them, but his three remaining men were killed as they reached the German trenches.

From the moment the battalion was “held up” in front of German wire Capt. R. W. Jones, the senior company commander on the spot, at once began the work of consolidating in front of German wire. The battalion held on in this position for the remainder of the day, until relieved by the 16^th Manchester Regiment about 3 a.m. on the 10^th of April, all the time under intense machine-gun and rifle fire.

Between 9th-10th April, 1917, the 18th King's lost 2 officers 2nd Lt. F. Ashcroft and 2nd Lt. H.G. Ewing and 59 other ranks killed. 8 other officers were wounded. 

He now rests at Neuville-Vitasse Road Cemetery, France where his headstone bears the epitaph:

“THOUGH DEATH DIVIDES FOND MEMORY CLINGS ALICE”

An obituary was printed in the Birkenhead News on the 28th April 1918 under the headline

“Absolutely Fearless Sergeant":

Sergt George Bevan Kings Liverpool Regiment who was killed in action on Easter Monday. He was the eldest son of Mr and Mrs Isaac Bevan, 5, School Lane, Hoylake. For some time he had been employed at the grocery establishment of Messrs George Watkins and Son, afterwards becoming a sailor. He enlisted in September 1914. He has seen a lot of service and has been twice wounded. He got a reputation for being absolutely fearless, in fact, he met his death by continuing to go on although wounded. 

Staffordshire Advertiser 27th April 1917 

HAYWOOD SOLDIERS KILLED  

Mrs. Rushton. of Hoo Mills Lockhouse. Great Haywood, has received news that her adopted son, Sergt. Geo. Bevan, was killed in France during advance Easter Monday, being shot sniper. The officer of his platoon, in sending the news, says:- “Your son has been my platoon sergeant for the past four months, and both with officers and men was a great favourite and extremely popular. He was one the bravest soldiers in the battalion. He was by my side throughout the whole of the operation, and I cannot express the deep admiration I feel at his splendid conduct. He died a true soldier’s death.” George Bevan had been a sailor for about six years before war broke out, and in the summer 1914 was working on a German sailing vessel which reached Hamburg just before the outbreak of war. He had been to nearly all parts of the world in his voyages. As a lad. he was very delicate. His mother (Mrs. Rushton’s sister) died at Shirleywich when he was about two years old, at which time George weighed only 71b. and Dr. Tylecote, of Sandon, doubted if he could be reared. Mrs. Rushton (then Miss Toye) took him to her home in Haywood, and had the satisfaction of seeing her care of him rewarded. He was 21 years old when he died. At the beginning of the war he joined the Queen's Own(sic) Liverpool Regiment, afterwards being transferred to the Liverpool “Pals.” He was recommended for commission, but preferred to remain in the ranks. He was home on leave in February. Mr and Mrs. Rushton had previously had news that their son, Pte. John Rushton, of the Sherwood Foresters, had been killed in October last. He formerly worked on Mr. W. G. Stretton’s farm at Tixall. His age was 31 years. 

Working from the newspaper info:-  

The family name was originally Bevins in the early census records, his grandfather Thomas and father Isaac growing up in the farming communities of the Stone area of Staffordshire. On the 1891 Census at Pasture Fields, head of the family Thomas is aged 74, an agricultural labourer b.Colton, Staffs., father Isaac aged 24, also an agricultural labourer b.Pasture Fields, his wife Mary aged 23 b.Great Haywood, and their children Arthur 3, Annie 1, both born in Pasture Fields. 

A birth was registered in Cannock for a George Willie Bevan.  

George’s soldiers effects and pension records a Miss Alice Parr as being his sole legatee, possibly his fiancée or sweetheart who also placed the epitaph on George's headstone.  

Isaac, dob 27th Dec 1865, and Phoebe, dob 20th Oct 1879, appear on the 1939 register still at School Lane with their married daughter Jane Davies.

The father died aged 77 in 1943 and the step-mother died in 1955 aged 76.

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