EVANS, William Roy
| Service Number: | 1544 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 28 December 1914 |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 2nd Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Cooma, New South Wales, Australia, 1892 |
| Home Town: | Cootamundra, Cootamundra, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | Catholic Convent School and Grammar School |
| Occupation: | Relieving Station Master |
| Died: | Killed in Action, Gallipoli, Turkey, 11 May 1915 |
| Cemetery: |
Beach Cemetery - ANZAC Cove |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Cootamundra RSL Honour Rolls, Cootamundra Sacred Heart Catholic Church Memorial, Cootamundra War Memorial, Haymarket NSW Government Railway and Tramway Honour Board |
World War 1 Service
| 28 Dec 1914: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 1544, 2nd Infantry Battalion | |
|---|---|---|
| 11 Feb 1915: | Involvement Private, 1544, 2nd Infantry Battalion, ANZAC / Gallipoli, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '7' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: HMAT Seang Choon embarkation_ship_number: A49 public_note: '' | |
| 11 Feb 1915: | Embarked Private, 1544, 2nd Infantry Battalion, HMAT Seang Choon, Sydney |
Great Sydney Central Station Honour Board
William Roy EVANS (Service Number 1544) was born in Cooma in 1892 but had lived at Cootamundra since childhood. He joined the NSWGR in Sydney in 1911 as a junior porter, was promoted to porter in 1913, resigned in May 1914 for some unknown reason but was allowed to withdraw his resignation, and in June 1914 was a porter on the Sydney Relieving Staff.
In December 1914 he was released from duty to join the AIF: when he enlisted at Liverpool he gave his ‘trade or calling’ as ‘signalman’s clerk’, and the Daily Telegraph of 3 July 1915 stated that at the time of his enlistment he was employed at Hawkesbury River. There is nothing inconsistent in these statements with his previous railway employment history.
On 11 May 1915 he was killed in action at Gallipoli. He was buried in the Beach Cemetery at the southern point of Anzac Cove. A war pension was granted to his mother.
Submitted 28 June 2023 by John Oakes
Biography contributed by Faithe Jones
"Came to Coota with parents at 2 years of age. Educated at Public School and Sisters of Mercy for a time, finishing up at the Grammar School. After serving a short time as a clerk in Coota he joined the Railway Dept. and was soon appointed Relieving Officer (Station Master) between Milsons Point and Hornsby." Details from Mother.
Biography contributed by John Oakes
William Roy EVANS (Service Number 1544) was born in Cooma in 1892 but had lived at Cootamundra since childhood. He joined the NSW Government Railways in Sydney in 1911 as a junior porter. He was promoted to porter in 1913. He resigned in May 1914. He withdrew his resignation. In June 1914 he was a porter on the Sydney Relieving Staff. According to his mother, he became a Relieving Station Master on the North Shore Line.
In December 1914 he was released from duty to join the AIF. When he enlisted at Liverpool he gave his occupation as ‘signalman’s clerk’. The Daily Telegraph of 3rd July 1915 stated that at the time of his enlistment he was employed at Hawkesbury River. These statements are consistent with his previous railway employment history.
He embarked from Sydney in February 1915. He joined his battalion at Gallipoli on 7th May.
On 11th May he was killed in action. He was buried in the Beach Cemetery, at the southern point of Anzac Cove. A war pension was granted to his mother.
- based on notes for the Great Sydney Central Station Honour Board
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