THOMAS HENRY EVANS

Image from the Suffolk Chronicle And Mercury – 1918.

Born: 23rd May 1891; Stratford, London.

Died: 6th June 1918; age 27; accidentally killed on duty.

Enlistment Details: Location: Chatham; Date: 23rd May 1909 – signed up for 12 years. Height on joining 5ft 3ins, at 18 years 5ft 6 1/2ins, fresh complexion, brown eyes & dark brown hair. Tattoo: an Anchor – left forearm.

Service:

Ganges – Boy II – 17th August 1907

Ganges – Boy I – 1st April 1908 – 1st June 1908

Cressy – Boy I – 2nd June 1908 – 14th September 1908

Indomitable – Boy I – 15th September – 14th October 1908

Dido – Boy I – 15th October 1908 – 11th November 1908

Shannon – Boy I – – 12th November 1908 – 1st February 1909

Implacable – Boy I – 2nd February 1909

Implacable – Ordinary Seaman – 23rd May 1909

Implacable – Able Seaman – 4th July 1910 – 24th April 1911

Pembroke I –  Able Seaman – 25th April 1911 – 21st May 1911

Aeolus – Able Seaman – 22nd May 1911 – 19th October 1911 – 21 days detention – disobedience.

Aeolus – Able Seaman – 10th November 1911 – 3rd October 1913

Pembroke I – Able Seaman – 4th October 1913 – 28th November 1913

Actaeon – Able Seaman – 29th November 1913

Actaeon – Leading Seaman – 14th January 1914 – 27th March 1914

Pembroke I – Leading Seaman – 28th March 1914 – 7th April 1914

Bonaventure – Thames – Leading Seaman – 8th April 1914 – 4th August 1914

Thames – Leading Seaman – 5th August 1914 – 18th November 1914

Pembroke I – Leading Seaman – 19th November 1914 – 27th November 1914

Dolphin – Leading Seaman – 28th November 1914 – 30th November 1914

Arrogant – Leading Seaman – 1st December 1914 – 30th September 1915

Arrogant – Leading Seaman – 1st October 1915 – 8th June 1916

Dolphin – Leading Seaman – 9th June 1916

Dolphin – Petty Officer – 1st October 1916 – 18th October 1916

Thames – Petty Officer – 19th October 1916 – 30th April 1917

Dolphin – Petty Officer – 1st May 1917 – 11th May 1917

Platypus – Petty Officer – 12th May 1917 – 6th October 1917

Dolphin – Petty Officer – 7th October 1917 – 9th May 1918

Vulcan – Petty Officer – 10th May 1918 – 6th June 1918 – Accidentally killed on duty.

Rank: Petty Officer; Service Number: 239495

Regiment: Royal Navy, H.M. Submarine H.12.

Grave Reference:

SW.S.76.

Dean’s Grange Cemetery,

County Dublin,

Republic of Ireland.

Relatives Notified & Address: Son of B. T. Evans, of Ipswich; husband of Edith Mabel Caton (formerly Evans), of 38, Levington Road, Ipswich.

CENSUS

1911   H.M.S.’Implacable’ Gibratar.

Thomas was 19 years old, an Able Seaman for the Royal Navy aboard H.M.S.’Implacable’ a Battleship of the Atlantic Fleet. Captain 45 years old, Robert J. Pendergastr, R.N.

On the 8th July 1915, at the Register Office, Ipswich, by special licence, 24 year old Thomas, a Leading Seaman R.N., married 22 year old, Edith Mabel Rowland, a tailoress, born April 1893, Ipswich – daughter of George Edward Rowland, a boilermaker for Ransomes, Sims & Jefferies, Orwell Works, and Susannah Rowland (nee Mann), of 38, Levington Road, Ipswich.

Edith and Thomas had two children:

Thomas Henry Evans, born 1916, Ipswich.

Irene Edith Ellen Evans, born January 1919, Ipswich.

Thomas is also remembered on the war memorial at St. Bartholomew’s Church, Ipswich.

Royal Navy, H.12.