{"id":5471,"date":"2016-06-11T20:43:20","date_gmt":"2016-06-11T20:43:20","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/plattwarmemorial.org\/?page_id=5471"},"modified":"2024-05-28T16:01:38","modified_gmt":"2024-05-28T16:01:38","slug":"alfred-luke-evans-1891-1917","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"http:\/\/plattmemorialhall.org\/warmemorial\/world-war-one\/alfred-luke-evans-1891-1917\/","title":{"rendered":"Alfred Luke Evans (1891 &#8211; 1917)"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"fusion-fullwidth fullwidth-box fusion-builder-row-1 nonhundred-percent-fullwidth non-hundred-percent-height-scrolling\" style=\"background-color: rgba(255,255,255,0);background-position: center center;background-repeat: no-repeat;padding-top:0px;padding-right:0px;padding-bottom:0px;padding-left:0px;margin-bottom: 0px;margin-top: 0px;border-width: 0px 0px 0px 0px;border-color:#eae9e9;border-style:solid;\" ><div class=\"fusion-builder-row fusion-row\"><div class=\"fusion-layout-column fusion_builder_column fusion-builder-column-0 fusion_builder_column_1_1 1_1 fusion-one-full fusion-column-first fusion-column-last\" style=\"margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;\"><div class=\"fusion-column-wrapper fusion-flex-column-wrapper-legacy\" style=\"background-position:left top;background-repeat:no-repeat;-webkit-background-size:cover;-moz-background-size:cover;-o-background-size:cover;background-size:cover;padding: 0px 0px 0px 0px;\"><style type=\"text\/css\"><\/style><div class=\"fusion-title title fusion-title-1 fusion-sep-none fusion-title-text fusion-title-size-three\" style=\"margin-top:0px;margin-right:0px;margin-bottom:31px;margin-left:0px;\"><h3 class=\"title-heading-left fusion-responsive-typography-calculated\" style=\"margin:0;--fontSize:24;line-height:1.5;\">Pte Alfred Luke Evans (1891 &#8211; 1917)<\/h3><\/div><span class=\" fusion-imageframe imageframe-dropshadow imageframe-1 hover-type-zoomin\" style=\"-webkit-box-shadow: 3px 3px 7px rgba(0,0,0,0.3);box-shadow: 3px 3px 7px rgba(0,0,0,0.3);margin-right:25px;float:left;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/plattmemorialhall.org\/warmemorial\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/coldstream_guards_badge.jpg\" class=\"fusion-lightbox\" data-rel=\"iLightbox[cea47248eb5e9b9906d]\" data-title=\"coldstream_guards_badge\" title=\"coldstream_guards_badge\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"238\" height=\"300\" src=\"http:\/\/plattmemorialhall.org\/warmemorial\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/coldstream_guards_badge-238x300.jpg\" alt class=\"img-responsive wp-image-5473\" srcset=\"http:\/\/plattmemorialhall.org\/warmemorial\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/coldstream_guards_badge-238x300.jpg 238w, http:\/\/plattmemorialhall.org\/warmemorial\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/coldstream_guards_badge.jpg 500w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 238px) 100vw, 238px\" \/><\/a><\/span><div class=\"fusion-text fusion-text-1\"><p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">During the Great War, trench raids were a regular feature of life at the front. Occurring almost always at night, these temporary incursions into the enemy front line\u00a0<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">were designed<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u00a0to gather intelligence and, at best, return with a prisoner. Typically, they\u00a0<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">were carried out<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u00a0by small teams of men who, before the attack, blacked up their faces before crossing over No Man\u2019s Land.\u00a0<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Those from the ranks who took part in such actions were rarely volunteers, and consequently, with such a\u00a0<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">perilous<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u00a0endeavour, the chances of returning\u00a0<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">unscathed or at all<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u00a0were often quite slim.<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u00a0One Platt man\u00a0<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">who is<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u00a0known to have taken part in such a raid was a young private from Wrotham Heath named Alfred Luke Evans, who served with the Coldstream Guards.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Alfred Luke Evans was born in Wrotham Heath on\u00a0<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">18 July<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u00a01891. When he was a few months old, Alfred (who was usually known by his middle name in adult life<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">),<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u00a0was christened in St. Mary\u2019s Platt Church on\u00a0<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">11 October<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u00a01891 &#8211; the first child of Luke Evans, a local farm labourer, and his wife, Eliza Ann (n\u00e9e Harryman.) In 1901, Alfred\u2019s parents appeared twice in the census and\u00a0<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">were enumerated<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u00a0in Wrotham Heath and Kent Street near Mereworth. Alfred is only listed in the latter and recorded as attending school, which, according to admission registers, was in Mereworth (previously East Farleigh up until\u00a0<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">4 March<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u00a01901.). By 1911, Alfred had left home and was boarding at Dukes Place Farm in West Peckham, where he worked as a waggoner\u2019s mate.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Before the war, Alfred briefly returned to Wrotham Heath, where he worked in the village shop<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">, and on<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u00a0<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">16 November<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u00a01914, while living in Hodsall Street near Wrotham, he caught the train to Maidstone and enlisted with the Coldstream Guards.<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">13744 Pte. A L Evans spent the next year based in the UK before being sent to France on\u00a0<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">18 November<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u00a01915, where he joined the 2nd\u00a0<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Battalion<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">. It is unknown precisely when Alfred arrived with his new unit, and unfortunately, the\u00a0<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">battalion<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u00a0War Diary during this period does not mention the arrival of new drafts; however, at the time, the 2nd Coldstream were billeted in Merville and, like most new arrivals, Alfred probably spent upwards of a week training at an infantry base depot before joining his new unit in the field.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">In early December, the Coldstream had occupied trenches north of the village of Laventie, about six miles southwest of Armenti\u00e8res, but by Christmas, had entered billets at La Gorgue. A letter published in the Hastings &amp; St Leonards Observer in January 1916 from Sergeant Jack Groombridge in Alfred\u2019s\u00a0<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">battalion<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u00a0gives an account of a \u2018Christmas Party at the Front\u2019.<\/span><\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p><em><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">It\u00a0<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">was found<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u00a0advisable to\u00a0<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">hold the celebration on<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u00a0the 24th, as we were due back in the firing line the following day.\u00a0<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Everything was done<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u00a0to ensure a good time. The festivities commenced at 12:30 p.m. and continued till 2 a.m.\u00a0<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">There was plenty to eat in the way of turkey, pork, beef, vegetables, salad\u00a0<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">etc.<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u00a0followed by fruit, biscuits and sweets.<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u00a0The Christmas pudding which followed reminded the boys of Old England.\u00a0<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Cigars and cigarettes were distributed<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">, and songs and recitations\u00a0<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">were contributed<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">. A gramophone also rendered musical selections.\u00a0<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">During the dinner\u00a0<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">the officers<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u00a0paid a visit and drank to\u00a0<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">their health<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u00a0and future success.<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u00a0One incident that occurred that night I shall ever remember.\u00a0<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">During the noise and\u00a0<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">merriment<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u00a0one of our comrades called for order and asked for a moment\u2019s reflection in honour of our departed comrades, who\u00a0<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">since<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u00a0the previous\u00a0<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Christmas<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u00a0had died for their country\u2019s honour.<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u00a0It was\u00a0<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">truly<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u00a0a touching moment. Everyone present rose in silence. Memories of the brave lads\u00a0<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">came back<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u00a0to us, and many eyes\u00a0<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">were dimmed<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u00a0with tears<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">. The<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u00a0few minutes seemed like hours.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">The following day, Alfred\u2019s unit went into trenches left of Vieille Chappelle at Pont du Hem, relieving the 1st Coldstream Guards and two months later, at the end of February 1916, the\u00a0<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">battalion<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u00a0left the Armenti\u00e8res sector and made their way to Calais, where they underwent a period of training:<\/span><\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p><em><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">The time at Calais was very well spent<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">.\u00a0<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Units\u00a0<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">were taught<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u00a0how best to conduct an attack under modern conditions, and the instruction\u00a0<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">was based<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u00a0on the\u00a0<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">actual<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u00a0experiences gained during the\u00a0<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Guards<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u00a0operation at Loos on the\u00a0<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">27th\u00a0<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">September<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">.<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u00a0Experiments with liquid fire showed that men could remain without injury when just hidden under the parapet of a trench, even if the jet of flame played upon it from a few yards distance.\u00a0<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">All ranks were made<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u00a0familiar with the use of live bombs, which had to\u00a0<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">be handled<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u00a0with care and\u00a0<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">knowledge,<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u00a0and whose mechanism had to be understood.\u00a0<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">The organisation of bombing parties was worked out<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u00a0in detail to meet all possible contingencies, and a drill evolved to make every man acquainted with the part he had to take in these expeditions.\u00a0<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">When first introduced\u00a0<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">hand-grenades<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u00a0were\u00a0<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">not always too<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u00a0safe, some were of faulty construction, and several deplorable accidents occurred.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">On\u00a0<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">17 March<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">, the Guards Division moved to the Ypres Salient in Belgium, with the\u00a0<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">battalion<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u00a0initially entering dug-outs on the Canal Bank left of Ypres before taking over the line in front of St. Jean three days later. Almost immediately, Alfred would have\u00a0<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">been exposed<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u00a0to heavy enemy shelling, and\u00a0<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">casualties were suffered<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u00a0from the outset. The trenches themselves were in poor condition and often quite dilapidated and water-logged; consequently, they offered scant protection from the continuous artillery bombardment and, in many places, had to\u00a0<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">be entirely rebuilt<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u00a0under the most violent conditions.\u00a0<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">This work was usually carried out<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u00a0at night due to the watchful eye of the German snipers and machine gunners who made working in daylight too dangerous.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Alfred endured four months of trench warfare on the Ypres salient, which at times must have been incredibly stressful; however, at the end of July, the\u00a0<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">battalion<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u00a0left Poperinghe and marched to Proven, where they entrained for St. Pol. The Coldstream had begun the journey to join the infamous Allied summer offensive on the Somme. Following a trip on one of the famous London buses drafted overseas to transport the troops, they eventually found themselves at Bertrancourt on\u00a0<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">11 August<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">. Five days later, Alfred was back in the line when his unit relieved the 12th King\u2019s Liverpool Regiment in trenches opposite Serre. He would have noticed the deep and better class of earthworks that were possible in the chalk soil of Picardy, which was in complete contrast to the waterlogged defences in Flanders. However, the rats were still as abundant, and, in addition to the rodents, there was a plague of flies.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Due to the continuous heavy bombardments that had torn up the landscape, the terrain on which operations were to take place was now a wasteland, with buildings, trees, and other objects previously upon it almost wholly obliterated. All landmarks had disappeared, and even villages that had once existed were no longer discernable and had become tumbled masses of brick that were only useful to mend the roads. There was nothing recognisable to guide a traveller to find his way to his destination. The ground, pitted with shell holes, made passage across it both laborious and challenging, with the only advantage being that there was plenty of shelter from enemy fire.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">The Coldstream had arrived in a relatively quiet sector, and casualties were minimal during their first few weeks at the Somme; however, in mid-September, they were ordered to make an attack from Ginchy towards Les Boeufs.\u00a0<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">At\u00a0<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">6:<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u00a030 am on\u00a0<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">15 September<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">, with the 3rd Coldstream on the\u00a0<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">left,<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u00a0and the 1st\u00a0<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Battalion<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u00a0on the right, Alfred\u2019s platoon began their advance, passing through Ginchy Wood and meeting with heavy machine gun and rifle fire on the other side.<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u00a0Men\u00a0<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">were mown down<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u00a0in their dozens, and casualties were substantial<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">, yet the<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u00a0<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">battalion<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u00a0was able to secure their first objective before moving on later in the morning towards the second, which they reached under the strain of a heavy artillery barrage.\u00a0<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Having consolidated their position<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">, during the evening<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">, the Coldstream fought off an enemy counter-attack and held the line until relieved at dawn two days later.<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u00a0Casualty figures for the 48 hours were estimated to be over 450 men from all ranks.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Alfred survived the assault, and in mid-November, while based in trenches near Les Boeufs, he became one of five men wounded on the 17th &#8211; receiving gunshot injuries to his arm, left thigh and hand. He was stretchered down the line to the Casualty Clearing Station and eventually found himself back in England on\u00a0<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">30 November<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Alfred spent several months in a hospital recovering from his wounds and, when well enough, was sent back to the front \u2013 arriving in France on\u00a0<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">6 May<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u00a01917. By June, he had rejoined his unit on the Ypres Salient and would have\u00a0<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">been based<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u00a0in the Boesinghe Sector at the start of July. On the night of 8\/9 July, Alfred took part in a night raid over the Yser Canal and\u00a0<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">was killed<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u00a0in the attack, which, despite several casualties, was deemed a success.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">In 1919, Alfred\u2019s body was discovered and reburied in the Artillery Wood Cemetery near Boesinghe. By then, Alfred\u2019s parents were living at 10 St Mary\u2019s Road in Wrotham and were the recipients of his dependant\u2019s pension.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: right;\"><em>Scott Wishart<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div><div class=\"fusion-clearfix\"><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":53,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-5471","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/plattmemorialhall.org\/warmemorial\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/5471","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/plattmemorialhall.org\/warmemorial\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/plattmemorialhall.org\/warmemorial\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/plattmemorialhall.org\/warmemorial\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/plattmemorialhall.org\/warmemorial\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5471"}],"version-history":[{"count":13,"href":"http:\/\/plattmemorialhall.org\/warmemorial\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/5471\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":10325,"href":"http:\/\/plattmemorialhall.org\/warmemorial\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/5471\/revisions\/10325"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/plattmemorialhall.org\/warmemorial\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/53"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/plattmemorialhall.org\/warmemorial\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5471"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}