North Irish Horse - Gallery - In memoriam

In memoriam

Private Robert Evans

Private Robert Evans, a shop assistant from Suffolk, Dunmurry, County Antrim, enlisted with the North Irish Horse on 11 November 1915 at the age of 20 (Service No.1842 - later No.71586 Corps of Hussars). He was the son of Thomas and Jane Evans of Belfast. Private Evans embarked for France on 11 August 1916 and was posted to A Squadron of the 1st Regiment North Irish Horse, VII Corps. During 1917 he was trained as a signaller. In November 1917 while on the Cambrai front he became ill with what was later diagnosed as tuberculosis. He was returned home and on 29 March 1918 was discharged as being no longer physically fit for service. His illness was accepted as being "attributable to the hardships & exposure of active service" and he was granted a pension. Private Evans died on 9 November 1918. He is buried at Derriaghy Christ Church Churchyard, County Antrim, Northern Ireland, grave 50, with his younger brother Thomas. Their grave inscriptions reads:

71586 PRIVATE

R. EVANS

NORTH IRISH HORSE

9TH NOVEMBER 1918

17716 PRIVATE

THOMAS EVANS

MACHINE GUN CORPS (INF.)

21ST MARCH 1920 AGE 23