William Evans

1896 – 1916

Private. Service N°19683

William enlisted as a gunner with the Royal Field Artillery in January 1915 (service N°84963) He was later transferred to the 9th Btn Scottish Rifles (service N° 19683) Killed in Action 7 Jul 1916

Royal Field Artillery

The Royal Field Artillery (RFA) was a cornerstone of British artillery support during the First World War, providing mobile field guns to support infantry operations. The RFA played a critical role in major battles on the Western Front, including the Battle of Mons in 1914, the Battle of the Somme in 1916, and the Battle of Passchendaele in 1917. They were responsible for delivering barrages, counter-battery fire, and supporting creeping barrages to protect advancing troops. The RFA’s adaptability and precision were vital to the war effort.

Scottish Rifles

The Cameronians (Scottish Rifles), Scotland’s sole rifle regiment formed in 1881 from the 26th Cameronian Regiment and 90th Perthshire Light Infantry, served as light infantry specialists in World War I, excelling in marksmanship, rapid maneuvers, and skirmishing across multiple theaters. Drawing recruits mainly from Lanarkshire, Dumfriesshire, and Galloway, the regiment expanded to over a dozen battalions by 1914, including two regular, several Territorial Force, and numerous Kitchener Army units that reinforced the British Expeditionary Force. The 1st Battalion fought from the Retreat from Mons through Loos, the Somme, and Ypres with divisions like the 6th and 33rd, while the 2nd joined the 8th Division for the Somme, Arras, and the 1918 Spring Offensive. Territorial battalions, such as the 1/7th and 1/8th in the 52nd (Lowland) Division, assaulted Gallipoli in 1915 before advancing in Sinai and Palestine to capture Gaza and Jerusalem; Kitchener formations like the 9th, 10th, and 11th spearheaded attacks at Loos, the Somme, Passchendaele, and Salonika, earning battle honors for France and Flanders (1914–18), Gallipoli (1915–16), Egypt (1916–17), Palestine (1917–18), and Macedonia (1915–18). Their tenacity in trench warfare and mobile operations, despite heavy casualties, exemplified Scottish martial valor and contributed decisively to Allied triumphs.

Rue de l'Ancre, 80300 Thiepval

British War Medal

The British War Medal was awarded to officers and men of British and Imperial Forces who either entered a theatre of war or served overseas between 5 August 1914 and 11 November 1918, with eligibility later extended to services in Russia, Siberia, and other areas in 1919 and 1920..

Approximately 6.5 million were struck in silver, and 110,000 in bronze for certain labour corps (e.g., Chinese, Maltese, and Indian). The medal weighs about one ounce, and its silver composition sometimes led to it being pawned or melted down for scrap value during tough economic times post-war. It was nicknamed “Squeak” when paired with the Victory Medal (“Wilfred”) in the popular trio.

1914 – 15 Star

The 1914-15 Star was instituted in December 1918 and awarded to British and Imperial forces who served in any theatre of war against the Central Powers between 5 August 1914 and 31 December 1915, except those eligible for the 1914 Star (which covered service in France and Belgium up to 22 November 1914)..

An estimated 2.4 million were issued, including 283,500 to the Royal Navy and 71,150 to Canadians. It was never awarded alone; recipients also received the British War Medal and Victory Medal, forming the “Pip, Squeak, and Wilfred” trio, with the 1914-15 Star often called “Pip.”

Victory Medal

The Victory Medal, also known as the Inter-Allied Victory Medal, was awarded to all who received the 1914 Star or 1914-15 Star, and to most who received the British War Medal, for service in a theatre of war between 5 August 1914 and 11 November 1918..

It was extended to include mine clearance in the North Sea until 30 November 1919 and the Allied intervention in the Russian Civil War until 1 July 1920. Approximately 5.7 million were issued across the British Empire. Each Allied nation designed its own version, but all shared a common ribbon and the winged Victory figure on the obverse. It was nicknamed “Wilfred” in the “Pip, Squeak, and Wilfred” trio.