Died: RAF hospital Uxbridge following an accident while dismantling a machine gun
Address / Local links: 62 Burnell Avenue, Welling
Family / Relatives: Son of Wilfred Duffin and Elizabeth Evans of Tidford Road. Husband of Elizabeth Florence Evans of Welling.
Local Papers / Websites: BHO 17th November 1944
Other Information: Attended Wickham Lane School. Worked at Woolwich Arsenal
David Arthur Evans was born on the 6th August 1919 in Poplar, London, the youngest of three children. His birth certificate records his name as Arthur David, but it appears that he was better known as David, as his Commonwealth War Graves Commission certificate records him as David Arthur, as does his obituary in the Bexleyheath Observer.
David’s father, Wilfred Duffin Evans, was also born in Poplar, in 1878, and grew up in the Cubitt Town area of the Isle of Dogs, near wasteland where the Millwall Rovers (now Millwall F.C.) are said to have played their first matches in the 1880s. Wilfred worked as a shop assistant and married David’s mother, Elizabeth Markham, in the summer of 1903.
Elizabeth was born in Stepney, London, in 1881 and grew up in Limehouse. By the time of the 1901 census, her family had moved to the Isle of Dogs, much closer to where Wilfred was living, and Elizabeth was working in a coffee house.
Elizabeth gave birth to their first child, Winifred Emma, in March 1905, around eighteen months after her and Wilfred’s marriage. Their eldest son, Wilfred Edward, was born seventeen months later, in August 1906. Elizabeth had not had any other children by the time of the 1911 census, and no other records of children born to her have been found. David was born thirteen years after Wilfred, in August 1919, the big gap between their births suggests that David was a surprise baby.
The family continued living in the Cubitt Town area of the Isle of Dogs, where Wilfred had grown up. Electoral registers show them renting two unfurnished top floor rooms in Mellish Street between 1906 and 1908. Between 1910 and 1915 they lived at two different houses in Manchester Road, latterly renting three furnished ground floor rooms.
By the end of the war they had crossed the river and were living in Helen Street, Woolwich, near to the Royal Arsenal and the army barracks. They had moved back to Manchester Road by the time of David’s birth, in July 1919, but moved across the river again and in 1925 were living at 125 Abbey Wood Road until at least 1930.
It is not known exactly when the family moved to the St. Michael’s area, but David did attend Wickham Lane School in Welling. By 1937 they were living at 14 Balliol Road with David’s sister Winifred and her husband, William Willson, and their son Anthony. By 1938 David and his parents were living at 61 Burnell Avenue and then at 5 Yew Tree Villas in Wickham Street in 1939. His father Wilfred was working as a grocery shop assistant and David was employed as a machinist at the Royal Arsenal.
During the war David served as an armourer with the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve and held the rank of Leading Aircraftman. The RAFVR was formed in July 1936 to provide individuals to supplement the Auxiliary Air Force in the event of another war. It recruited men between the ages of 18 and 25 who had been accepted for part time training as Pilots, Observers and Wireless Operators. After the outbreak of war, the Air Ministry used the RAFVR as the principal means for aircrew entry to serve with the RAF.
David married Elizabeth Florence Black in April 1941 and eighteen months later their son, Michael D Evans, was born, in October 1942. Not a great deal is known about Elizabeth as it has been difficult to find records for her. Her birth was registered in October 1919, in Dartford, Kent. Her parents were Harold William Black and Florence Ruth Black (nee Bywater) and she had three younger siblings – Margaret (b.1921) Joan (b.1922) and Harold William Jnr (b.1924). In 1924 the family were living at 85 Lovel Avenue and Elizabeth’s father Harold was employed as a wood worker.
Elizabeth could not be found on the 1939 Register, but her family were recorded as living at 62 Burnell Avenue, Welling. David had lived at number 61 in 1938, therefore it is likely he met Elizabeth during the brief time he lived in Burnell Avenue.
Tragically, their time together was to be very short. David was killed in an accident whilst on duty on 31st October 1944, aged 25. He was dismantling a machine gun when an explosion occurred, causing a laceration to his brain.
David’s funeral was held on Monday 6th November at St. Michael’s Church. He was buried in the churchyard with a cross headstone marking his grave, the inscription read: “At rest Until we meet again”. He is also commemorated on the St. Michael’s Church memorial panel.
The Bexleyheath Observer reported David’s death on 17th November 1944 and recorded the attendance of several people at his funeral, including his Commanding Officer and four airmen.
Little is known of the lives of David’s wife Elizabeth and their son Michael after his death. Elizabeth married Robert Stone in April 1946. They are recorded on the 1964 and 1965 electoral registers as living at 15 Milton Road, Welling. These are the last records found for all three, and it is highly likely that Michael is still alive today.
By the time of David’s death, his parents were living at 44 Tidford Road, Welling. They were still living here when his father Wilfred died in 1962, aged 83. David’s mother Elizabeth died seven years later, in 1969, aged 87.
Bexleyheath Observer, 17th November 1944:
KILLED ON SERVICE
L/A/C David Arthur Evans.
L/A/C David Arthur Evans of 62, Burnell-avenue, Welling, and son of Mr. and Mrs. Evans, of 44, Tidford-road, Welling, has been killed in an accident while on duty with the R.A.F.
Aged 25, he was called up four years ago and became an armourer.
L/A/C Evans went to Wickham-lane School, Welling, and afterwards worked at the Arsenal.
The funeral took place on November 6 at St. Michael’s Church Cemetery, East Wickham, the Rev. G. J. L. Heweston officiating. The Commanding Officer and four airmen attended.
Flowers were sent by the widow and baby son Michael, Mr. and Mrs. Evans, Mr. and Mrs. E. Evans, Mr. and Mrs. Black, Mr. and Mrs. Chapman, Mr. and Mrs. Culver, Mr. Neave, Mrs. Royal, Mrs. Rickford, Mrs. Johnson and family, Mr. and Mrs Hinton and Freddie, Mrs. White and family, Mrs. Jackson and family, Mrs. Peckham and family, Mr. and Mrs. Fox and family, Mrs. Vallom and family, Mrs. Denny, Uncle Jim and family, Pals of Armoury Section, R.A.F. Commanding Officers, officers and airmen of 71 M.U., and Neighbours.
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Commemorated
- St. Michael’s East Wickham Church Memorial Tablet
- East Wickham (St. Michael’s) Churchyard
This story has been researched by volunteers. We have taken every effort to ensure its accuracy. If you are related to David Arthur Evans, or if you have any further information, please do get in touch.