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Cemetery
JB I60 Private Kingsley Alan Evans
Cemetery records give the plot as JB I60, this may be due to the necessity to bury victims in temporary graves while provision was made for the burial of war casualties. He was buried in a private grave with no CWGC headstone but he is also remembered on the screen wall in the cemetery, with the plot record EJ K05. [Buried in EJ K05 is a James Pound, originally from Wiltshire, in the 1881 census he is a police constable at Ore, by 1891 he is a ‘General Gardener’. It is possible that the use of plot JB was a wartime expedient, as we have found others listed in JB who have memorials elsewhere.]
Private Evans was a private in the 48th Battalion Canadian Infantry. He was born in Saskatchewan on 18th Janaury 1894 to Thomas B. and Clara B. Evans.
Thomas Evans, 1844-
In 1871 Thomas is a schoolmaster, name miss spelt Evens, with wife & 2 children, Arthur 1 and William 9 months.
They have more children, Harry 1871, Charles Edgar 1874, Ada Elizabeth 1876, Herbert John 877, these children in the 1881 census living with Hotten Relatives in Cornwall. All Died in Canada.
1881 Thomas 2nd Marriage 22nd Jan Kings Norton Warwickshire to Clara Bolitho Stevens.1858-
1881 Census Thomas & Clara, 13 Wilson Patten Street, Warrington Lancashire
In 1891Thomas & Family Emigrate to Canada
Howard Edward, 1881-
Kingsley Alan Evans enlisted on 31st August 1915. He was 21, single, and his occupation was confectioner. He is described as 5’10’’ with a fair complexion, blue eyes and dark brown hair. The Hastings Observer of 25th December 1915 takes up the story.
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There was a further mention in Hastings Observer of 1/1/1916 when the family thanked the military for the arrangements for the funeral and added the information that Mr William Evans, his uncle, who lived at 66 St Helen’s Road, was also present.
In 1901 William was living at 16 Park Road, with his wife Frances, who came from Hastings, and his daughter Emily. He was a Board School Headmaster. By 1911 he was living at 66 St Helen’s Road with Frances and Emily, who was now a telegraphist.
Military funeral in Hastings
The mortal remains of Private Kingsley Alan Evans of the 48th Battalion C.E.F were laid to rest in the Borough Cemetery on Wednesday afternoon with full military honours.
Deceased, a Canadian and a very promising young soldier, was only 21 years of age and died from pneumonia in hospital at Minster, Thanet. The body was conveyed to the Cemetery in a motor transport wagon. On the coffin, which was covered with the Union Jack, rested a lovely wreath from his parents. The bearers and firing party were furnished by the 7th Devon Cyclist battalion under Lieutenant Greenback. The Last Post was sounded by trumpeters supplied by the 2/1st Surrey Q.M.O Yeomanry, under Trumpet-
The chief mourners were deceased’s two brothers and a cousin. Among the many beautiful floral tributes were wreaths from Father, Mother and members of the family, from wounded comrades , Hill House A.M.H Minster, Thanet, and an artificial wreath from his comrades in arms at Hill House A.M.H. Minster, Thanet and a c? from the doctor, matron and nursing staff
