Gunner John Joseph Evans was born on the 8 December 1887 in Paddington, London, the third of the four children of John Joseph Evans (1850-1913) and Harriet Evans née Darby - but sometimes spelt as Derby (1853-1943). On 8 December 1889 he was jointly baptised with his brother George Henry Evans (b.1889) at St Mary's Church, Paddington Green. The baptismal register shows the family living at 22 Crompton Street, Paddington and that their father was a porter.
The 1891 census confirms he was still residing at 22 Crompton Street with his parents and three siblings: Bernard James Evans (1882-1959), Beatrice Annie Evans (1884-1951) and George Henry Evans. His father's occupation was listed as a draper's packer.
On the 16 June 1891 he was enrolled in the Campbell Street School, Maida Vale, London. On the 1 July 1897 he was admitted to the nearby St. Mark’s School and the family by this time had moved to 130 Portman Buildings, Lisson Grove, Marylebone.
In the 1901 census he was shown as still living at 130 Portman Buildings, Marylebone, with his parents and three siblings. His father was described as a packer at the Army & Navy Stores, his brother Bernard as a postman and his sister Beatrice as a waitress.
In May 1907 he also was appointed as an Assistant Postman in South-West London and promoted to Postman in April 1909 in West London. The 1911 census confirms that he was a postman and was still living in 3 rooms at 130 Portman Buildings, Marylebone, with his parents and his younger brother George. His father's occupation was again given as a general store's drapery packer and his brother was a tailor's clerk.
On the 24 March 1913 he married Elsie Eliza Hobbs (1890-1960) at St Thomas Parish Church, Camden Town, London where the marriage register confirms that he was still a postman and that they both gave their addresses as 25 Stratford Place, Camden Town. Our picture image is a photograph taken at their wedding. (Stratford Place was subsequently renamed to Stortford Place, London, N1).
He joined the Royal Field Artillery, service number 27084, and entered France on the 26 November 1915. He was attached to their 153rd Brigade, B Battery, when he died of wounds, aged 29 years, on the 26 January 1917 at the No.1 Canadian Casualty Clearing Station and was buried in Plot 3, Row A, Grave 96 of the Bailleul Communal Cemetery Extension, Bailleul, Nord, Pas-de-Calais, France.
Probate records show that administration (with a will) was granted to his widow on 28 April 1917 and confirm that his home address had been at 183 Ashmore Road, Maida Hill, London. His effects totalled £155-1s-2d. His army effects were sent to his widow in two parts: £1-1s-6d was sent to her 12 April 1917 and £3-9s-6d on 8 June 1917. She was sent his £7-0s-0d war gratuity on 24 December 1919.
He was posthumously awarded the 1914-15 Star, the British War Medal (1914-1918) and the Victory Medal. He is also commemorated on page 118 in the Post Office Fellowship of Remembrance Memorial Book 1914-1920 and on the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website.
Credit for this entry to: Andrew Behan
