Arthur Evans (8th April 1891 to 1st November 1936)
On a sunny Sunday morning I drove across to Lytham on the
Lancashire cost for a run up and down the sand dunes. On the way I went to walk
round the cemetery to find the family grave which contains the ashes of Arthur
Evans. I’d looked before, strolling around for about 45 minutes. This time I
got luck. I drive in my slippers and was just sitting on a grave putting on my
trainers when I looked up, swigged the last of the coffee in the cup, and
scanned a few graves. My eyes fell on the correct one.
Arthur had been
born in Liverpool, left school to get a job in an office but soon resigned as
it wasn’t for him. He joined the Royal Navy as a stoker but was injured in the
ribs and was invalided out. He joined the Merchant Navy and ended up in
America. Once back at home in England he felt tireless and joined The Lincolnshire Regiment. Shortly after
joining he was sent to fight in the First World War and was so badly injured he
was sent home to Manchester to recover.
Soon the
27-year-old was fighting in Etaing,
France. On 2nd September 1918 He was part of a patrol checking the west bank of
a river when an enemy machine-gun was seen on the east bank. Knowing he could
be shot at any time Arthur volunteered to swim across the deep river to shot
the gunner. He crawled up behind the machine-gun post and got round the back of
it. He shot the sentry and another man and made four more men surrender. A
crossing was found and two of Arthur’s troop crossed to join him. The troop
continued their patrol of the river bank. Suddenly a curtain of bullets sprayed
from machine-guns and rifles were on them. One officer was shot (but didn’t
die) and Arthur slowly withdrew with the wounded man covering his retreat with
his own gun.
Arthur was also
awarded a DCM for gallantry. Just three month after the above-mentioned bravery
he was part of a platoon ordered to clear the country north of Chateau Of Aubencheu-au-Bac to Canal-de-la-Sensee.
They encountered strong gun fire. Arthur rushed ahead killing ten men, wounding
some more and taking one man prisoner. Not long after this he was manning a
machine gun he was buried alive and thought to be dead (he was only unconscious
but was thankfully face up and able to breath.)
The King invested
Arthur with the Victoria Cross on 6th December 1918 on one of his
many visits to France to keep up the morale of the army.
After the war the
33-year-old married and moved Australia with his wife. They lived in Sydney,
New South Wales and Arthur worked for the Australian Tank Corps as a voluntary
soldier for two years. Suddenly his health broke down and he spent ten months
in hospital (his wife sleeping in a nearby room). He died there aged just 45
leaving a 3-year-old son. He was cremated at the North Suburbs Crematorium in
Sydney after an impressive military service. Thousands of people lines the
streets to see the coffin pass by on a gun carriage, preceded by the Royal
Australian Artillery band. Seven other holders of Victoria Crosses attended the
funeral and the Australian Tank Corp fired volleys from their revolvers over
the coffin.
So why are Arthur’s
ashes her on the coast in Lancashire? In 1936 the Australian government decided
Arthur’s ashes should be returned to the country of his birth. There were taken
there by Australian VC-winners who had been invited to London to attend the
coronation of King George VI.
There was no red
wreath on the grave. How many people have strolled passed this non-descript
grave without knowing the story behind it? I leave a water proof calling card
on some graves I visit and sometimes people respond to the email address. I
think I’ll revisited this grave though and leave something more permanent, a
laminated A4 page summarising the man who’s ashes are buried there.
Les Dawson and
his first wife Meg are buried near this grave so I strolled across to said
hello. There was a sealed
card there with “Mum” written on it. I’m a very nosy person but even I know not
to open things like that.
About to look for….
Touching the
“VC” and there it is on his chest…
There’s Arthur
getting the Victoria Cross…
The grave wasn’t
far from Les Dawson’s so I went to say hello…
So near the
coast you just have to visit the wonderful sand dunes…
