L/Cpl 15546 Donald Evans

• Age: 23
• From: Ormskirk, Lancs
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 17th Btn
• K.I.A Thursday 11th May 1916
• Commemorated at: Cerisy-gailly Mil Cem
  Panel Ref: II.D.5

Donald Evans was born in the December quarter of 1892 in Ormskirk to John William Evans and his wife Margaret Williams Pickavant who were married 17th January 1883 at Wesleyan Methodist Chapel in Ormskirk. John was a 28 year old grocer of Moss View, Moor Street, Ormskirk, father Samuel a grocer, whilst Margaret was aged 20 of Moss Lane, Lathom, father Thomas a provision dealer. Donald had siblings Norman, Thomas, Samuel, Ellen and Alice. His father John was a wholesale grocer.

The 1901 Census shows the family are living at 45 St Helens Road, Ormskirk. His father, John W. is a 46 year old wholesale grocer, born in Ormskirk, his mother 38 years of age and was born in Lathom. Donald is 8 years of age and has five siblings in the household; Samuel C. is 17 years of age and a grocer's assistant, Ellen is 15, Alice is 12, Norman is 7 and Thomas is 6.    

Donald's mother, Margaret, died soon after the census, aged 38, on the 02nd April and was buried on the 04th April at St James’ Churchyard, Westhead, Ormskirk.  

The 1911 Census shows the family still living at the same address, John has a new wife, Alice (nee Bridge) aged 55 years, whom he married in the first Quarter of 1902 at the Burscough Methodist Chapel. His father, John William, is aged 56, and his occupation is still a wholesale grocer. His wife Alice was born in 1856 in Mawdsley, she has no occupation listed. They have four children living with them; Alice aged 22, born 1889 an elementary school teacher, Donald aged 18, born 1893 a sugar merchants apprentice, Norman aged 17, born 1894 a farm labourer, and Thomas aged 16, born 1895 a horseman on a farm. The children were all born in Ormskirk. They also have a domestic servant Jane Rigby aged 23, born in 1888 born in Bickerstaffe. 

Donald enlisted on 31st August 1914 at St George's Hall in Liverpool joining the 17th Battalion of The King’s Liverpool Regiment as Private 15546.

He was billeted at Prescot Watch Factory from 14th September 1914, he trained there and also at Knowsley Hall. 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 with his battalion on 07th November 1915.

He was killed in action on 11^th May 1916, aged 23.

In May 1916 the battalion were in front line trenches near Maricourt on the Somme. The 17^th Bn relieved the 19^th at 5:40 p.m on 11th May 1916.  At 7:45 p.m. the enemy started shelling the front line trenches.

From the Battalion War Diary:

“Enemy shelled front line trenches 17/1, 17/2, 17/3, and 17/4 for about ¾ hr fairly heavily with 4.5, 5.9, and minenwerfer shells came from North.  Support and Communication trenches were also shelled.  Our artillery replied with 4.5 and 18 pounders.  5 OR killed and 1 wounded.” 

The Other Ranks killed were Lance Corporal Donald Evans, Privates George Henry Cole, Charles Adam Holland, Charles Joseph Kain, and Albert James Moore. 

Donald now rests in Cerisy Gailly Cemetery, Grave II D 5 alongside Private Albert James Moore in II.D.2, Private Charles Holland in II.D.3, and Private George Henry Cole in II.D.4. Private Charles Joseph Kain is also buried in the same row in the cemetery at II.D.19.

Gailly was the site of the 39th and 13th Casualty Clearing Stations during the early part of 1917, and of the 41st Stationary Hospital from May 1917 to March 1918. The villages were then captured by the Germans, but were retaken by the Australian Corps in August 1918. Cerisy-Gailly Military Cemetery (originally called the New French Military Cemetery) was begun in February 1917 and used by medical units until March 1918. After the recapture of the village it was used by Australian units. The cemetery was increased after the Armistice when graves were brought in from the battlefields of the Somme. The cemetery now contains 745 Commonwealth burials and commemorations of the First World War. 114 of the burials are unidentified and special memorials commemorate five casualties buried at Maricourt and Ste. Helene whose graves could not be found. The cemetery was designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens.

Donald’s death was reported in the Liverpool Echo on 18th May 1916:

ORMSKIRK SOLDIER KILLED

Official news was received yesterday of the death in action of Lance-corporal Donald Evans, King's Liverpool Regiment (24), eldest son of Mr J.W. Evans of Glencoe, St. Helen's Road, Ormskirk. He enlisted in August 1914. He was a salesman in the employ of Messrs. Crosfield and Co. Vauxhall- road, Liverpool. He was a member of the Ormskirk Hockey Club.   

Also in the Ormskirk Advertiser dated 18th May 1916: 

Memorial Service at Ormskirk Parish Church.  Four losses including Donald Evans of the Liverpool Pals.  Vicars address included “Tonight we also include on who did not as a custom worship with us within these walls but who, nevertheless worshipped in our town.  An old Ormskirk Grammar school lad, Donald Evans and one who did not by any means disgrace the school, in the ranks of the Liverpool Pals.  He has added something of the new won lustre which is associated with their names. New banners have been woven in richest silk and died in human blood and on those banners are inscribed such names as that of the old Grammar school boy, behind none in his determination to do his duty.      

It was also reported in the Ormskirk Advertiser dated 25th May 1916:

L Corpl Donald Evans the son of Mr J. W. Evans, Glencoe, St Helens Road, Ormskirk, who has two other sons in the army.  Lance Corporal Evans has made the great sacrifice whilst serving at the front with the Liverpool Pals. He was twenty three years of age and was a most popular young fellow with a host of friends in Ormskirk.

Liverpool Daily Post - Thursday 01 June 1916

Killed. King’s (Liverpools) - Evans, 15446, Lance-Corpl. D. (Ormskirk);

He earned his three medals.

Soldiers Effects, army pay £8 5s 3d, War Gratuity of £7 10s to father John William and no pension record found.    

Details of a Memorial Service were reported in the Ormskirk Advertiser dated 22nd June 1916: 

Memorial Service.  Lance Corporal Donald Evans – The evening service at Ormskirk Wesleyan Church on Sunday last was in memory of the late Lance Corporal Donald Evans of the “Liverpool Pals” son of Mr J. W Evans of ‘Glencoe’ St Helens Road, Ormskirk and those who have fallen in the war.  The service was very largely attended and was of a most impressive character.  A long and thoughtful address was printed in the paper and preached by the minister Rev J. W. Faraday. There is also a long verse about Donald in the Advertiser 28/9/1916 by his pal H. King.

Soldiers Effects to father John William and no pension record found.

Donald’s brother Thomas, the youngest son, died in hospital of pneumonia on 31st October 1918 whilst serving as Private 39248 with the 6th Battalion of the South Wales Borderers. He now rests at Pont-De-Nieppe Communal Cemetery in France.

Thomas' death was reported in the Ormskirk Advertiser on 14th November 1918:

ORMSKIRK FAMILY'S SECOND SON

Pte. Thomas Evans, youngest son of Mr. J. W. Evans of "Glencoe" St Helens-road, Ormskirk has died of pneumonia in France. He was 23 years of age, and had been in France nearly two years. This is Mr Evans's second loss through the war, his eldest son Pte. (sic) Donald Evans, being killed about two years ago. Another son, Pte. Norman Evans is at home suffering from influenza contracted during leave from France.    

Donald is remembered on the family grave at St James’ Churchyard, Westhead, Lathom:- 

 Also of DONALD, 

son of the above John W. and Margaret W. Evans, who was killed in action in France, May 10th(sic) 1916.

His father died aged 80 on the 19th December 1934 and was buried at St James’ Churchyard, Westhead, Lathom. 

Probate was granted in Liverpool on 02nd March 1935:- 

DONALD John William of Glencoe 45 St Helens Road, Ormskirk Lancashire died 19 December 1934 probate Liverpool 2 March to Norman Evans grocer and Harry Leonard Busbridge chemist. Effects £10,261 8s. 

Donald and Thomas are commemorated on the following Memorials:

Ormskirk Comrades Roll of Honour 1914-1918 situated in the Council Offices at 52 Derby Street, Ormskirk

Ormskirk War Memorial, Coronation Park, Ormskirk.

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