George Albert Evans (1881-1916)

[davewatt63]

George Albert Evans was my mum's Uncle. As far as I can tell he was killed on the first day of the Battle of Albert (the Somme), 1st July 1916.
He was married to Isabella (nee Worthington) in 1906 & they had five children, George, William, Elizabeth, Georgina & Richard. George was a Sergeant with the 2nd Lancashire Fusiliers at the time of his death & was awarded the Military Medal posthumously. He is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial & in the Hall of Remembrance at Liverpool Town Hall. I have no idea why he was awarded the MM & I am aware that over 115,000 were awarded in WW1 so whilst I appreciate that his actions were not of the extraordinary nature that warranted the award of a VC, for example, his actions were clearly recognised by somebody. Does anybody have any idea were one might find such a record? Countless internet searches have proved fruitless.
George's family & my grandfather's (Daniel Evans, 1886-1959) appear to have become estranged for some reason. I've no idea of the details but would be interested if anyone has an interest themselves in this line or knows of someone who does. I only know the bare bones of this line from what I could find on Ancestry.

[luxor]

George Albert Evans was my mum's Uncle. As far as I can tell he was killed on the first day of the Battle of Albert (the Somme), 1st July 1916.
... his actions were clearly recognised by somebody. Does anybody have any idea were one might find such a record? Countless internet searches have proved fruitless.

You could purchase the War Diary for his regiment; £3 or £4 from the National Archives. Then just trawl through it. You regularly see mention of awards made some time after an event. If the heroism recognised occurred at the time of his death you will need to search well into the future from that point.

[davewatt63]

I did try at the TNA a few months back but found nothing. Still might be an idea to buy it, as you suggest, & have a look through it at home when I have more time. I might have missed something. Thanks.

[Katie]

Serjeant George Evans was reported as missing in action in a Casualty List published in The Liverpool Courier published 4th August 1916. I

Lancashire Fusiliers
Evans
4504
George
Serjeant
Liverpool
1st July 1916
Missing
Husband of Isabella Evans
Military Medal
4th August 1916
Liverpool Courier

Did the family reside at 32, Danby Street, Everton?

[davewatt63]

Thanks for this. I don't know about 32 Danby Street. In 1911 the family was at 50 Abbot Street. Interesting that he was listed as having an MM though he was MIA. That suggests to me that his MM may have been awarded at another time, not something I'd considered before. I mean he wouldn't have been awarded an MM for his sacrifice, as it were, then noted as MIA though I suppose it could have been an action earlier on the same day.

[Katie]

This is his entry in the London Gazette for his award of the Military Medal often published many weeks after the act of gallantry of the soldier.

https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/iss ... ment/10921

The information on CWGC was compiled after the War, so in my opinion he was most probably awarded the MM for gallantry in the Battle of the Somme. Could be wrong.

There where so many soldiers posted as missing on the 1st July 1916, and from research I have carried out the War Office did not have a clue what had happened to the soldier so they posted them as missing in action. The War office did not even know an exact date of death for these brave men and I have many instances where dates of death range from 1st July to 4th July 1916. I think there is a obituary for him in the Liverpool Evening Express which I will have to check. I'll keep you updated.

[davewatt63]

Thanks again Katie. Yes, I would imagine it was all a mess. I have seen the entry in the Gazette before but the obituary will be fascinating if you can locate it.
Whilst I know that 115,000 MMs were awarded & that that, therefore, sadly means that George's actions are little more than a footnote in history I still find it strange that I cannot find a record of what he did. After all somebody noticed at the time! Did such records exist &, if so is it possible that some, or all of them, were lost when the Service records went up in flames? Does anybody know?

[Katie]

As Luxor suggested I would get the War Diary and see if anything is mentioned. You may be lucky and his name maybe mentioned as he was a Sergeant.