Henry Evans (RFC officer)
Second Lieutenant Henry Cope Evans DSO (26 July 1880 – 3 September 1916) was a World War I flying ace credited with five aerial victories, all gained while flying the Airco DH.2.[1]
Henry Cope Evans | |
|---|---|
| Born | 26 July 1880 London, England |
| Died | 3 September 1916 (aged 36) Northern France |
| Commemorated at | |
| Allegiance | Canada United Kingdom |
| Service/ | Royal Regiment of Canadian Artillery Canadian Expeditionary Force Royal Flying Corps |
| Years of service | 1900–1901 1914–1917 |
| Rank | Second lieutenant |
| Unit | "C" Battery, Canadian Field Artillery 19th Alberta Dragoons No. 24 Squadron RFC |
| Battles/wars | Second Boer War World War I |
| Awards | Distinguished Service Order |
Biography
Evans was the only son of W. H. and Alice M. Evans of West Point, Camberley, Surrey, and was educated at Woodcote House School, Windlesham, and Haileybury. As a young man Evans emigrated to Ontario to learn fruit farming. He enlisted in the Royal Regiment of Canadian Artillery during the Second Boer War, and served in South Africa for a year as part of "C" Battery. On returning to Canada he took up ranching near Macleod, Alberta, and also held a Government appointment as Range Rider. A keen sportsman and horseman, he was well known as a polo player, and was one of the early pioneers of the game in Western Canada.[2]
On 23 September 1914 at Valcartier, Quebec, he enlisted as a trooper in the 19th Alberta Dragoons,[3] arriving in England with the 1st Canadian Contingent in November 1914. He served with the Dragoons in France from February until September 1915, was promoted to the rank of sergeant[2] and was badly affected by poison gas.[4]
He was transferred to the Royal Flying Corps and commissioned as a temporary second lieutenant on 13 September 1915,[5] and on 25 September joined No. 24 Squadron RAF in action at the front,[2] not being officially gazetted as a flying officer (observer) until 22 November.[6]
Evans was posted to Home Establishment on 26 January 1916 for pilot training, being appointed a flying officer on 15 May,[7] and being granted the Royal Aero Club Aviator's Certificate No. 2603, after flying a Maurice Farman biplane at the Military Flying School, Farnborough, on 23 May.[1]
He re-joined 24 Squadron on 4 July 1916, gaining his first victory on 20 July, driving a Roland C.II down out of control over Fleurs, and the next day he destroyed another enemy aircraft over Combles. Between 6 and 9 August he destroyed a further three enemy aircraft, gaining the five confirmed victories needed for flying ace status. Evans was shot down and killed by German anti-aircraft fire on 3 September 1916 while on a morning offensive patrol over the British Fourth Army front.[1]
He was listed as "missing" by the War Office,[8] and as his remains were never recovered he is commemorated at the Arras Flying Services Memorial.[9]
Honours and awards
Both of Evans' awards were gazetted posthumously, on 22 September 1916 and 2 January 1917 (dated 13 November 1916), respectively.
- Distinguished Service Order
- Temporary Second Lieutenant Henry Cope Evans, General List, attached Royal Flying Corps.
- For conspicuous gallantry and skill on many occasions in attacking hostile aircraft, frequently against large odds. In one fortnight he brought down 4 enemy machines, returning on one occasion with his machine badly damaged.[10]
- Mention in Dispatches
In a long list of officers noted by General Sir Douglas Haig, Commander-in-Chief of the British Armies in France.[11]
References
- ^ a b c "Henry Cope Evans". The Aerodrome. 2014. Retrieved 1 December 2014.
- ^ a b c "Personals: Casualties". Flight. IX (441): 565. 7 June 1917. Retrieved 1 December 2014.
- ^ "Second Lieutenant Henry Cope Evans". Canadian Great War Project. 2014. Retrieved 1 December 2014.
- ^ Shores, Christopher F.; Franks, Norman & Guest, Russell F. (1990). Above the Trenches: a Complete Record of the Fighter Aces and Units of the British Empire Air Forces 1915-1920. London, UK: Grub Street. p. 150. ISBN 978-0-948817-19-9.
- ^ "No. 29319". The London Gazette (Supplement). 5 October 1915. p. 9871.
- ^ "No. 29401". The London Gazette (Supplement). 10 December 1915. p. 12420.
- ^ "No. 29600". The London Gazette. 30 May 1916. p. 5324.
- ^ "The Roll of Honour: Missing". Flight. VIII (403): 787. 14 September 1916. Retrieved 1 December 2014.
- ^ "Evans, Henry Cope". Commonwealth War Graves Commission. 2014. Retrieved 1 December 2014.
- ^ "No. 29760". The London Gazette (Supplement). 22 September 1916. p. 9268.
- ^ "No. 29890". The London Gazette (Supplement). 2 January 1917. p. 204.