Sergeant William Ernest Evans DCM
9823 1st Coldstream Guards
Killed in Action 16th October 1917
Lived at 53 New Hall Street
Buried in Dar es Salam War Cemetery
St.Andrews Memorial, Burnley

Burnley Express 3/11/1917 (P)

born Derby and enlisted Burnley. Son of John Walter & Edith Evans, of 67 New Hall Street, Burnley. Killed in Action Mahiwa, East Africa, 16th October 1917, William is buried at Dar Es Salaam War Cemetery, grave 6. F. 9.

He was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal, London Gazette 11th March 1916, his citation reads; for conspicuous gallantry. He had several times by zeal and enterprise carried out successful bombing operations against the enemy, and has three times, as bombing instructor, saved men’s lives by throwing away bombs which have been accidentally dropped. He has been severely wounded in the execution of his duties.

D.C.M. GUARDSMEN KILLED. (Burnley Express 03/11/17)

Sergeant William Ernest Evans, 9823, of the Coldstream Guards, is another Burnley soldier who has made the great sacrifice. A former weaver at Messrs Preston’s Bishop House Mill, he was identified with St Andrew’s Church and School. He was a single man 21 years of age, and was killed in action on October 16th.
Sergeant Evans enlisted at Preston six years ago in the East Lancashire Special Reserve and after twelve months training was transferred to the Coldstream Guards, where six months later, he was appointed a bombing instructor. He went out with a draft in December, 1914, where he was early on promoted to the rank of Sergeant. He went through first Ypres battle and was wounded on three occasions, and for six weeks was in hospital at Airwick. Recovering, he reported at his depot at Windsor, and in June, 1916 was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal. The act which gained him the distinction was performed while he was acting as bombing instructor. He saved the lives of three men by throwing away bombs which had been accidentally dropped, and was severely wounded in the act.
The deceased soldier had also seen service in East Africa, being attached to the Nigerian Regiment, 4th Battalion, overseas contingent. The mother of Sergeant Evans resides at 53 New Hall Street, Burnley. Another brother Private Harold Evans is serving with the East Lancashire’s in France, and his mother has just received a field card to say he has been wounded in the knee.