Samuel Evans

   Cause of his death was Killed in Action.

  Noted events in his life were:

• source. Michelle Procter (nee Addy) & Nicola Metcalfe

• Military. Nicola Metcalfe sent these attachments:
A soldier, sailor or airman qualified for a campaign medal as soon as he went overseas - The British War Medal, 1914-1920. It is impossible to set out all the details of qualification for this medal, but briefly, the requirement was that a member of the fighting forces had to leave his native shore in any part of the British Empire while on service. It did not matter whether he/she entered a theatre of war or not. The medal is silver, and circular. A truncated bust of King George V is on the obverse, while there is a depiction of Saint George on the reverse. There is a straight clasp carrying a watered silk ribbon. This has a central band of golden yellow with three stripes of white, black and blue on both sides. The blue stripes come at the edges. An attempt was made to draw up a list of bars, but it was found to be an overwhelming task and was abandoned. Some 4,700,000 of these medals were struck for distribution at home, and another 600,000 in the Dominions and Colonies. 6,610,000 British War Medals were issued. The soldier's regiment and number are inscribed around the rim. The Victory Medal, 1914-19 This medal was awarded to all those who entered a theatre of war. It follows that every recipient of the Victory Medal also qualified for the British War Medal, but not the other way round. For example if a soldier served in a garrison in India he would get the BWM but not the Victory Medal. In all, 300,000 fewer Victory Medals were required than British War Medals. All three services were eligible. It is not generally known that Victory Medals continued to be awarded after the Armistice, for the British forces who saw action in North Russia (up to October 12th, 1919) and Trans-Caspia (up to April 17th, 1919) also qualified. The medal was struck in bronze. On the obverse is a full-length figure of Victory. On the reverse is the inscription "The Great War for Civilisation". There is no clasp, but a ting attachment through which the ribbon is passed. The official description of the colour of the ribbon is "two rainbows with red in the centre". An oak-leaf emblem was sanctioned for those who were mentioned in despatches. 5,725,000 Victory Medals were issued. The soldier's regiment and number are inscribed around the rim. The next most common award: the 1914-15 Star A Star similar to the 1914 Star was issued to all personnel mentioned below, with certain exceptions, who served in a theatre of war before December 31st 1915 and who did not qualify for the earlier star. 2,078,183 1914-15 Stars were issued. Simple rule: if a man did not qualify for a 1914 or 1914-15 Star, he did not see service in a theatre of war before 1916. A combination of the 1914-15 Star, the British War Medal and Victory Medal is often called a "trio", or "Pip, Squeak and Wilfred". The least common campaign medal: the 1914 Star Popularly but inaccurately known as the Mons Star. This medal was awarded to all officers, warrant officers, non-commissioned officers and all men of the British and Indian Forces, including civilian medical practitioners, nursing sisters, nurses and others employed with military hospitals; as well as men of the Royal Navy, Royal Marines, Royal Naval Reserve and Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve, who served with the establishment of their unit in France and Belgium between August 5th 1914, and midnight of November 22/23rd, 1914. The decoration consists of a lacquered bronze star, the uppermost ray of the star taking the form of the imperial crown. Resting on the face of the star is a pair of crossed swords, and, on them, is a circular oak wreath. A scroll winds around the swords : it is inscribed with the date Aug.- Nov. 1914. The ribbon is red merging into white and then into blue. A bar inscribed "5 Aug. to 22 Nov. 1914" was given to all those who served under fire. Since the same ribbon is used with the 1914-15 Star, holders of the earlier award were permitted to wear a small silver rosette on their ribbon when the decoration itself is not worn. On the medal index cards this is usually noted as the "Clasp and Roses". Note that men who served in Egypt and elsewhere at this time do not qualify for this medal. Note also that men who crossed to France after 23 November do not qualify for this medal, but the 1914-15 Star. 365,622 1914 Stars were issued. A combination of the 1914 Star, the British War Medal and Victory Medal is often called a "trio", or "Pip, Squeak and Wilfred".

Samuels Medal Card shows the following: He served with the Yorkshire Light Infantry. He reached the rank of Private. He was awarded the following medals: Victory Medal British Medal 1914-15 Star. Where it says THEATRE OF WAR there is a number (1) followed by France. This code was used for soldiers who were disembarked in France before 31st December 1915. The QUALIFYING DATE shows the date he landed in France - 13th April 1915. Finally in ACTION TAKEN it shows he was KILLED IN ACTION (28th July 1916)

Samuel married Mary Jane Lunn, daughter of John William Lunn and Elizabeth Beech, on 18 Nov 1911 in St Helens, Hemsworth, near Pontefract, West Yorkshire England. (Mary Jane Lunn was born on 13 Aug 1893 in Five Ways, Cannock, Staffordshire England and died in Sep 1960 in Hemsworth, near Pontefract, West Yorkshire England.)