Sergeant Sydney George Evans
| Date of Birth | 11 May 1893 |
|---|---|
| Age at Death | 21 |
| Date of Death | 9 May 1915 |
| Service Number | 992 |
| Military Service | 1st Battalion Royal Fusiliers London Regiment |
| Merton Address | 32 Alexandra Road, Wimbledon |
| Local Memorial | Raynes Park Methodist Church |
Additional Information
Born in Fulham, London 11th May 1893, Sydney was the son of Alfred and Louise Evans, who had previously been living in Beckenham. In addition to Sydney, the couple had seven other children – Louise, Rose, Alice, Alfred, Lavinia, Winifred and Harold. By 1901 Sydney’s father was working as a printer’s fitter and had transferred his family to 92 Sumatra Road, Hampstead. They clearly moved house several times, possibly to meet work needs, or the demand for extra space caused by a growing number of children. The Evans offspring were born in various parts of London, from Woodford and Clerkenwell, to Upton Park, Leyton and Walthamstow.
Sydney attended Dundonald School then Queens Road School - later he became a member of the Old Merton Boys Club.
By 1911, the family had moved to a larger property at 32 Alexandra Road, Wimbledon. Sydney’s father was now a Trade Union Secretary. Many of the children had also reached working age – Rose (or Rosetta ) was working as a shorthand typist for a trade union (possibly the one headed by her father. ) Both Alice and Winifred were shop assistants for a stationery company; Alfred jnr was a compositor, or typesetter at a printing works and Sydney was also a printer’s machine minder. One can surmise that they worked at the same printing company.
Sydney enlisted in the 1st Battalion, London Regiment (Royal Fusiliers.) His service standard was clearly high, as he managed to reach the rank of sergeant soon after war broke out. Originally based in Bloomsbury, the 1st London was posted to Malta in September 1914, together with other units of the Royal Fusiliers. After training and logistics work, the men returned to England briefly, before travelling to France in March 1915. Here they joined the 25th brigade, part of the 8th Division, South of Armentieres.
Fighting alongside army regulars, the 1/1battalion (as it was now known) took part in the Battle of Aubers Ridge on 9 May 1915, losing 3 officers and 120 men. Sydney was one of the casualties and died on 9 May 1915, two day before his 22 birthday. He is commemorated on the Ploegsteert Memorial, south of Ypres and also at Raynes Park Methodist Church.
At the time of Sydney’s death, his parents were living at 22 Belmont Road, Twickenham.