William Gray Evans, Dolgellau and RWF.

I recently aquired the WWI trio to William Gray Evans, in the Australian Forces from 1915 (7th AIF & 5th Pioneers) to 1919. In his service papers he states former service with the RWF (5 years). He was born ca 1890, father John Evans of 5 Park Lane, Dolgellau.


A brother, John Hugh Evans died with the 1/7th in Palestine, and as William Gray Evans is mentioned in the 1911 census living in Dolgellau, I beleive he would probably also have been territorial before going to Australia.


Obviously he came back to Wales post WWI, dying in Dolgellau early 1945 "on war service" according to the probate register on Ancestry. Wonder what war service that might have been?


Does anyone know of a way to confirm his probable service with the 1/7th RWF?

TIA,

Lars

Hello LarsA,
I have just had a shufti at the book titled "With Allenby's Crusaders. I looked at all the pages that mentioned the 1/7th. I also had a look in the index, but O.R's were not mentioned. The 1/5th and 1/6th were merged to go to France and were replaced by Indian troops. The 1/7th was transferred to 160 Brigade. Mention is made on page 118 of men from the 1/7th being awarded the M. M. The book was written by Captain John More of the 1/6th R W F
Regards jungle1810

Hello Lars A,
I picked up the following from S.D.I.T.G.War part 28 R W F. John Hugh Evans Dollgelly 290581 k i a.Egypt 26/3/1917. I also noted the following John Hugh Evans Newtown 3211 kia Gallipoli 10/8/1915 I am unable to find news on William Gray Evans in this list (7th R W F.) I will try another source of information later.
R B D aka jungle1810

Again thanks!

You won't find William Gray Evans in the RWF during the war - his service was pre war, then he moved to Australia, and joined up there. But as his brother definitely was in the 1/7th, there is a chance that was his btn prewar. Or the 4th Militia, or 3rd Service btn.

ATB,

Lars

Regrettably no service record, and that is the only source of information for pre-war service as far as I know. They may be lots of suitable sources in the Museum archives, who knows. but without a curator (and none coming) and without the volunteer researchers there will be zero chance of finding out. Their backlog for answering information requests I believe is now more than a year.

John

Thanks John!

there is a service record, in the Australian archives, but only says on enlistment for previous service: Royal Welch Fusiliers (5 years).

Pity about the museum, I'll try the Dolgellau angle next.

ATB,

Lars

An update:

I found his brothers service papers, who served with the special reserve prewar and WWI with the 7th.

A nephew served with the 6 (Royal Welch) parachute battalion in WWII, killed in a training accident with 1 para in the UK in 1945. He was called Gwilym Gray Evans, who I thought in my first post to the William Gray I was looking for.

I also found a relative who had an interest in William Gray Evans' medals, so they are now back in the family.

ATB,

Lars