1885 - 1916
CPL David Wallace Crawford
1887 - 1916
Lce-Corpl John Joseph Nickle
1894 - 1916
Pte 17911 Morton Neill
1897 - 1916
Lieut Edward Stanley Ashcroft
1883 - 1918
Pte 32717 Evan Lee
- Age: 25
- From: Leigh, Lancs
- Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 20th Btn
- D.O.W Sunday 15th October 1916
- Commemorated at: Heilly Station Cem, Mericourt
Panel Ref: III.E.27
Evan Lee was born Leigh, Lancashire in the March quarter of 1891, the youngest son of Edward Lee and his wife Mary (née Price). His father, was born in Ellesmere, Shropshire, and his mother in Holt, North Wales. They married on the 13th August 1873 at St James Roman Catholic Church, in Pendleton. Edward was a widowed gardener of St James', his father, Thomas, was a gardener, whilst Mary, was also of St James' her father, Richard, was a fisherman. They had ten children, eight of whom are found on censuses. Evan had older siblings Sarah, Mary, Catherine, Edward, William, John, and Martha Hannah.
The 1891 census finds the family living at 45 Hurst Street, Bedford, Leigh, with four children. His father is aged 50, a domestic gardener born Ellesmere, Shropshire, mother Mary is aged 43, born Holt, Flintshire, children born in Eccles and at school; William 11, John 9, and Martha H. 7. Evan is three months old, born Patricroft.
By 1901 they have moved to 9 High Street, Leigh, where they remain. His father is 62, a domestic gardener, his mother is 53. William 21, is a coal miner, below ground, John, 19, is a cotton mill piecer, Martha Hannah is 15, a cotton weaver. Evan is 10.
When he was 19, in the summer of 1910, Evan married Sarah Davies, in Leigh. Sarah was born in 1892 in Santa Monica, USA. It appears that Sarah had a son, Edward Davies, born in 1908.
The 1911 Census shows Evan and Sarah,
The 1891 census finds the family living at 45 Hurst Street, Bedford, Leigh, with four children. His father is aged 50, a domestic gardener born Ellesmere, Shropshire, mother Mary is aged 43, born Holt, Flintshire, children born in Eccles and at school; William 11, John 9, and Martha H. 7. Evan is three months old, born Patricroft.
By 1901 they have moved to 9 High Street, Leigh, where they remain. His father is 62, a domestic gardener, his mother is 53. William 21, is a coal miner, below ground, John, 19, is a cotton mill piecer, Martha Hannah is 15, a cotton weaver. Evan is 10.
When he was 19, in the summer of 1910, Evan married Sarah Davies, in Leigh. Sarah was born in 1892 in Santa Monica, USA. It appears that Sarah had a son, Edward Davies, born in 1908.
The 1911 Census shows Evan, aged 19, and Sarah, aged 20, living as Boarders at 10 Boardman Street, Leigh. They are boarding with Edward James and Florence Rimmer and their two children, John Thomas and James Edwin. There is also another boarder by the name of Edward Davies ( Sarah's son) at the address. Evan lists his occupation as Grocery Shop assistant and he has been married for less than a year.
His parents are still living at 9 High Street with Edward, 33, John, 29, and Martha, 25, and granddaughter Lily Lee, 10. Four of their ten children have died.
Evan and Sarah’s first son, also called Evan, was born on 30th April 1911, followed by Elsie on 13th December 1912, and William on 02nd June 1914.
He enlisted in Leigh in August 1915 with the R.F.A. and following a transfer was serving in the 20th Battalion, of The King’s Liverpool Regiment as Private No. 32717. At some point he was transferred to The King’s Liverpool Regiment, perhaps the 22nd Btn., and was serving in the 20th Battalion as Private No. 32717
His recruitment was featured in the Leigh Chronicle and Weekly District Advertiser on Friday 13th August 1915;
Week's Recruiting in Leigh.
Evan Lee, 9 Central-avenue, R.F.A.
Evan died of wounds on the 15th October 1916, aged 25, during the Battle of the Transloy Ridges which was part of the ongoing Somme Offensive
He now rests at Heilly Station Cemetery, Mericourt-l’Abbe.
The 36th Casualty Clearing Station was at Heilly from April 1916. It was joined in May by the 38th, and in July by the 2/2nd London, but these hospitals had all moved on by early June 1917. The cemetery was begun in May 1916 and was used by the three medical units until April 1917. From March to May 1918, it was used by Australian units, and in the early autumn for further hospital burials when the 20th Casualty Clearing Station was there briefly in August and September 1918. The last burial was made in May 1919. There are now 2,890 Commonwealth servicemen of the First World War buried or commemorated in this cemetery. Only 12 of the burials are unidentified and special memorials are erected to 21 casualties whose graves in the cemetery could not be exactly located. The cemetery also contains 83 German graves. The burials in this cemetery were carried out under extreme pressure and many of the graves are either too close together to be marked individually, or they contain multiple burials. Some headstones carry as many as three sets of casualty details, and in these cases, regimental badges have had to be omitted. Instead, these badges, 117 in all, have been carved on a cloister wall on the north side of the cemetery. The cemetery was designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens.
The CWGC Graves Registration form shows reg. number 32716, and inexplicably shows the 22nd Bn K.L.R. The 22nd Battalion never served overseas.
His death was reported in a brief notice in the Liverpool Echo on 30th October 1916:
“Private Evan Lee (26), 9 Central Avenue, Butts, Leigh, formerly an assistant grocer, has been killed, leaves a widow and four children, was in the King’s Liverpool.”
A local Leigh newspaper also reported:
“Private Evan Lee of Central Avenue has been killed. His name will be on the Bedford Wesleyan Roll of Honour.”
(His name does not appear on the Bedford Wesleyan Church Memorial.)
His death was also reported in the Liverpool Daily Post on Wednesday 22nd November 1916;
DIED OF WOUNDS.
King's (Liverpool Regiment). - Alderson, 15781, Sergt. R. H.; Beattie, 16767, Corpl. J. R.; Bird, 22929, E.; Hynes, 11282, S.; Lee, 32717, Е.; M’Grath, 5436. Lce.-Corpl. T.; Wharton, 5220, H. (Southport); Williams, 4424, W. G. (Bootle).
His death was also reported in the Leigh Chronicle and Weekly District Advertiser on Friday 05th January 1917;
LEIGH DIVISION ROLL OF HONOUR.
From August 4th, 1914, to December 31st, 1916.
Pte. Evan Lee, 9 Central-avenue, Liverpool Regt.
He earned his two medals.
His widow Sarah, living at 9 Central Avenue, Leigh, received his Army effects, Army Pay of £5 9s 1d, War Gratuity of £4-10s and was awarded a pension of £1-6s-3d for herself and three children from April 1917.
On the 1921 Census at Central Avenue, William Andrews is aged 26, a general labourer, Sarah is 30, now born Leigh, Edward 13, Evan 10, and Elsie 8.
In 1939 Sarah, 48, is still living at 9 Central Avenue, with her husband and her son Edward Lee (born Davies), 31, a colliery hewer. His son Evan 28, married with a family, lives in Leigh and is a labourer in an iron foundry. Evan died in 1967, aged 55. His daughter Elsie, 27, is married, and living with her husband and son in Leigh. Elsie died in 1978, aged 65. It is not known what became of his youngest son William.
His children were aged 5, 3, and one year old when Evan was killed (the son he raised, Edward Davies/Lee, would have been 8 years old).
His widow Sarah, living at 9 Central Avenue, Leigh, received his Army effects, including a War Gratuity of £4-10s and was awarded a pension of £1-6s-3d for herself and three children from April 1917.
Soldiers’ Effects seems to show 20th Bn crossed out and replaced with 22nd (Reserve) Bn; however, the medal roll shows only 20th Bn.
Evan is commemorated on the Leigh War Memorial
His widow Sarah remarried in 1920 to William Andrews.
In 1939 Sarah, 48, is still living at 9 Central Avenue, with her husband and her son Edward Lee (born Davies), 31, a colliery hewer. His son Evan 28, married with a family, lives in Leigh and is a labourer in an iron foundry. Evan died in 1967, aged 55. His daughter Elsie, 27, is married, and living with her husband and son in Leigh. Elsie died in 1978, aged 65. It is not known what became of his youngest son William.
Sarah died in Leigh in 1980, at the age of 88.
We currently have no further information on Evan Lee, If you have or know someone who may be able to add to the history of this soldier, please contact us.