Dawlish World War One Project

John Evans joined the Royal Navy on 1 February 1889 at the age of 21 and signed on for 12 years service. He declared his previous occupation as ‘labourer’. He was initially a Stoker 2nd Class. He served aboard H.M.S.TEMERAIRE for two years in which time he progressed to Stoker, serving also on 3rd Class Cruiser H.M.S.BLANCHE. while serving a similar appointment aboard H.M.S.BARROSSA, sister ship to BLANCHE, he was made up to Leading Stoker, 1st Class.

He returned to barracks in September 1897 and on 6 November he married Selina Burch .

After her marriage to John Evans they lived mostly in Plymouth as he had spells based in the Devonport Naval Base until his pension in 1911.

They had a son, Harold, born in Stoke, Devonport in 1901 and it appears that he was christened Harold John S Evans. He is listed on the 1911 census aged 9 when they lived at 47 St George’s Terrace, Stoke, Devonport.

John Evans was made up to Chief Stoker in March 1902, at the age of 34 and continued in that rank until he was pensioned from H.M.S.VIVID on 5 February 1911. In August 1905 he was sent to H.M.S.DEVONSHIRE when she was completed and was initially assigned to the 1st Cruiser Squadron of the Channel Fleet.

He joined the Royal Fleet Reserve on 12 February 1905 with the service no. A3043, and was paid from H.M.S.VIVID (R.N.Base, Devonport) until his death on 17 January 1919.

John Evans was born to William and Elizabeth Evans of Westwood, Cofton (1871 census). William Evans was an agricultural labourer, born in Exminster ca. 1834. He worked as a general labourer (1881 census) as did son John after leaving school.

In the summer of 1862 William Evans (spelling varies Evens/Evans in different sources) married Elizabeth Wood in the St Thomas district.

In 1871 William and Elizabeth were living in a ‘Cottage’ at Westwood, Cofton.