The Newcastle Daily Chronicle 27/01/1916 reports:
“Trench Mortar Bursts.
Officer fatally injured while giving a demonstration.
Accident at Whitley Bay.
At Newcastle Infirmary last night, Mr. Alfred Appleby, City Coroner, held an inquest on Rupert Ancrum Evans, 24, a second lieutenant in the 3rd West Yorks, who died at the institution on Tuesday night, from injuries received earlier in the day through the bursting of a trench mortar.
Second Lieutenant Cassella, of the 3rd West Yorks, stationed at Whitley Bay, said Evans resided in Longridge Road, Earls Court, London. Evans had been at the front for some months. About 3.45 on Tuesday afternoon Evans, who was a certified bomb instructor, and a bomb officer in the battalion, was giving a demonstration in the use of a trench mortar. One bomb had been successfully discharged, but when an attempt was made to fire the second the mortar burst. Witness was standing four or five yards to the left of the mortar, but Evans, who was about 6 yards to the rear, was struck and he fell to the ground bleeding from the left side of the chest. Evans was conscious and asked if anyone else was hurt. Assistance was secured, and Evans was brought to Newcastle. Evans was a very keen and capable officer.
Lieut. Colonel Brunton Angus, of the R.A.M.C. said that when he saw Evans at the military hospital he was unconscious and suffering from a large wound on the left side of the root of the neck. His collar bone was splintered. A fairly large piece of metal was extracted from the back of the neck and the injuries were dressed. It was a hopeless case and Evans died just after the dressing was complete, death being due to loss of blood and shock following the injuries.
Mr. J.R. Roberts, clerk to the Newcastle magistrates, attended as an old friend of the deceased’s family, and on their behalf thanked the officers and medical staff for the care and attention given to the deceased. Evans was a capable young officer, and had had a successful year at Charterhouse, Cambridge University and the Inner Temple. He was about to be called to the Bar when he joined the Honourable Artillery Company, with whom he went to the front, where he remained for some months. He came back in June last and received a commission in the West Yorks.
The Coroner associated himself with Mr. Roberts’ remarks.
A verdict was returned to the effect that Evans died from injuries received through the accidental bursting a trench mortar.”
29/01/1916 reports the body being taken by rail back to his home. Following a short service at the mortuary, there was a military procession from the hospital to Newcastle Central Station.
