Military Chat

i am trying to trace richard evans who ws born in pontesford shropshire 1878 he was a carpenter then he joined the royal flying corp in the first world war. have been told that he was killed in action but cannot find anything about him.

his dad was samuel evans a carpenter living at the engine house,pontesford shropshire.


it is his war records etc i am researching.

any help please

thank you

https://www.cwgc.org/

For background


1881
Samuel Evans Head Married Male 27 1854 Carpenter & Joiner Pontesbury, Shropshire, England
Eliza Evans Wife Married Female 24 1857 - Pontesbury, Shropshire, England
Richard Evans Son Single Male 2 1879 - Pontesbury, Shropshire, England
Elizabeth A Evans Daughter Single Female 0 1881 - Pontesbury, Shropshire, England
John Evans Brother Single Male 17 1864 Ag Lab Pontesbury, Shropshire, England

I know it's his service record you're looking for - but just posting; for reference.

Be aware that approx 70% of WW1 records have not survived.

Richard Evans
in the 1911 England Census
Name: Richard Evans
Age in 1911: 31
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1880
Relation to Head: Son
Gender: Male
Birth Place: Pontesbury, Shoprshire
Civil Parish: Pontesbury
Country: England
Street Address: 2 Engine Cottages, Pontesford, Salop
Marital status: Single
Occupation: Carpenter
Registration District Number: 349
Sub-registration District: Westbury
ED, institution, or vessel: 16
Piece: 16112
Household Members:
Name Age
Samuel Evans 57
Eliza Evans 54
Richard Evans 31
Emily Evans 21
Annie Evans 20
Samuel Evans 22
Ann Davies 77

Is this his birth - 1879 ??

EVANS, RICHARD mmn DAVIES
GRO Reference: 1879 J Quarter in ATCHAM Volume 06A Page 679

Parents' marriage:

Marriages Dec 1878 (>99%)
DAVIES Eliza Atcham 6a 1297
EVANS Samuel Atcham 6a 1297

Births of siblings shown on 1881 (above) and later censuses, born in Atcham RD, also have mmn Davies.


Therefore, as born in 1879 - a possiblity in 1939 ???

Richard Evans
in the 1939 England and Wales Register
Name: Richard Evans
Gender: Male
Marital Status: Single
Birth Date: 1879
Residence Year: 1939
Address: Ty Cerrig Croesaubach
Residence Place: Oswestry, Shropshire, England
Occupation: Farm Labourer
Line Number: 6
Schedule Number: 14
Sub Schedule Number: 1
Enumeration District: OJQR
Borough: Oswestry
Registration district: 350/3
Household Members Age
Richard Evans 60
Margaret Morris 64 - 18 May 1875, widow


But DOBs on 1939 Register are not always correct - and this one only gives the year, not the day or month, which you could have verified from the birth cert.


EDIT:

NO, I don't think that's him in 1939 after all.
There are records of another Richard Evans, born in Oswestry area, who had a sister Margaret of the right age who married a Morris.

Many men who were in the Army first, transferred to the RFC and on into the RAF

????
Britain, Campaign, Gallantry & Long Service Medals & Awards

First World War Record

Year of service: 1916
First name(s) R
Last name Evans
Year 1914-20
Service number 15984, 129401
Second service number 129401
Rank Lance Corporal,Lance Corporal
Second rank Lance Corporal
Regiment South Wales Borderers, Royal Flying Corps
Second corps Royal Flying Corps
Service record Soldier Number: 15984, Rank: Lance Corporal, Corps: South Wales Borderers
Second service record Soldier Number: 129401, Rank: Lance Corporal, Corps: Royal Flying Corps
Image link http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/SearchUI/Details?uri=D2157490
Country Great Britain
Medal type British Army Medal Index Cards, 1914-1920
Archive reference WO372/6
Archive reference description Campaign Medal Index Cards and Silver War Badge Cards
Record set Britain, Campaign, Gallantry & Long Service Medals & Awards
Category Military, armed forces & conflict
Subcategory Medal Rolls and Honours
Collections from Great Britain, UK None

Not that one, I'm afraid:

Reuben Evans
in the UK, World War I Pension Ledgers and Index Cards, 1914-1923
View Original Image on Fold3.
Name: Reuben Evans
Record Type: Card
Service Number: 129401, 8/15984 <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
Title: WWI Pension Record Cards and Ledgers
Description: Other Ranks Survived
Reference Number: Z/Raf/4381, 5/Af/744
Next of Kin:
Name Relation to Soldier
Reuben Evans

thanks everyone,

greyghost that looks like it could be my richard. we know he died in the first world war. there is not even a mention of him on the cenotaph inthe village. will look at those records as could be him

thank you

just realised, after getting excited, that it was not richard but reuben. back to the drawing board.

thanks again

Have you checked out this death below?

Not during the war, but maybe family legend isn't quite correct??

Richard Evans
in the England & Wales, Civil Registration Death Index, 1916-2007
Name: Richard Evans
Death Age: 45
Birth Date: abt 1879
Registration Date: Jul 1924
[Aug 1924]
[Sep 1924]
Registration Quarter: Jul-Aug-Sep
Registration District: Atcham
Inferred County: Shropshire
Volume: 6a
Page: 604

That would account for his name not being on the village cenotaph.
And as already said, about 70% of WW1 service records have not survived.


If the document below is correct, that man's not buried in Pontesbury - but maybe was cremated, or his name wasn't put on a stone.
The compilers have got the date of the current pandemic wrong, so who knows?!

https://tinyurl.com/lutgcx5h

What is the basis for your thinking he was KIA?

Any documentation?

If he had been, he should be on the CWGC site