Heslop's Local Advertiser
Pauline Priano has submitted the following:-
Eli Evans was born at Felling near Gateshead, County Durham in 1893, one of 10 children of whom only 8 survived, 5 sons, 3 daughters, 2 deceased, one, a little girl Elizabeth who died at approximately 1 year of age in 1892. His father and mother both originated from the Forest of Dean, Gloucestershire, John Evans was born at Berry Hill, in 1849, Annie Meek in 1857 at Littledean Wood. Their families migrated to the north east where they met and married in 1876 in the district of Durham. Working as a miner, John’s family settled at Allison’s Place, Washington, near Chester-le-Street, unfortunately John died in 1899, his widow Anne in 1901 was living at 85, Spout Lane. Anne worked from home for her own account as a dressmaker, her eldest sons Joseph (24), William Lewis (18) and also John only 13 all worked at the colliery below ground. William’s mother remarried at Newcastle-upon-Tyne in 1902 to Evan Evans and appears in the 1911 census as married (9 years), living at 15, Havelock Terrace, Usworth Station Road, Washington, where she continued her profession as a dressmaker supported by her youngest sons Alfred (21) a coal hewer and Eli (17) a screener at the pit head, Evan Evans is not listed with them.
Eli Evans married in 1913 at Trinity Church, Gateshead Sarah Annie Knowles and with whom he had a son John Evans Evans born February 25th 1914, the infant died a few months later. He left his employment as a miner to enlist August 26th 1914 at Gateshead and was assigned as Private 16636 to the 10th Battalion Durham Light Infantry joining the 43rd Brigade 14th (Light) Division training at Woking, moved to Aldershot and by November 1914 they were at Whitley for the winter and did not return to Aldershot until February 1915 for final training. Prior to this move, January 18th 1915, Private Evans was discharged, under King’s Regulations of 1912, paragraph 392C, “considered unfit for service” as he was suffering with haemorrhoids. Determined to serve his country he presented himself at the recruitment station and joined the 1st/9th Battalion Durham Light Infantry as Private 4265 in the field in 1916. The battalion as part of the 151st Brigade, 50th Northumbrian Division until August 1916 was in the trenches on the Ypres Salient and Armentieres then moved to join the fighting on the Somme where during September and October they attached Starfish Line just north of Delville Wood.
Private 4265 Eli Evans was killed in action September 15th 1916, his sacrifice recorded as one of the 72,246 names inscribed on the Thiepval Memorial to the Missing of the Somme, Thiepval, France, which commemorates servicemen from Britain and South Africa who died on the Somme 1915-1918 and who have no known grave. Private Evans was 22 years old.
His widow Sarah Annie living at 19, Davidson Street, Felling, County Durham received all monies due to him, a pension for herself and their child and his awards of the British War Medal and Victory Medal.
His brother William Lewis Evansalso served during WW1 as Private 2046 1st/9th Battalion Durham Light Infantry. He did not serve abroad and was discharged April 7th 1916, he died December 23rd 1916, “at home”, leaving a widow and children. Buried with military honours at Heworth (St. Mary) Churchyard, Gateshead, County Durham.
In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.
His death was reported in Heslop's Local Advertiser 17/11/1916:
"Private Eli Evans, D.L.I., killed in action, Sept. 15th, aged 22 years. Husband of Sarah Annie Evans, 19, Davidson Street, Felling."
He is remembered at Gateshead on G38.91
