Canada. A GRVI Memorial Cross to a First War Veteran, Gunner William Archer Halesy Evans

GRVI (341949 GNR. W.A.H. EVANS). Naming is engraved. Sterling silver, hallmarked and marked "STERLING" on the reverse, replacement ribbon, contact marks, very fine.

Footnote: William Archer Halsey Evans was born on December 26, 1871 (later stated as December 25, 1879) in Glamorganshire, Wales. It was noted that he had syphilis before enlistment. Evans signed his first Attestation Paper as "Archer" Evans (139077) with the 75th Infantry Battalion on July 16, 1915 in Toronto, Ontario, stating his birth date as December 26, 1871, at the age of 43, naming his next-of-kin as his wife, Alice Mary Evans of Ottawa (later Toronto), stating that he had eleven and half years previous service with the Yorkshire Regiment, that he was Married and that his trade was that of Miner. His religion was Church of England. He was posted to Niagara Camp on August 3, 1915. Early in the new year, he suffered a bout of Pneumonia and was hospitalized at the camp from February 4 to 14, 1916. He was transferred to the 170th Infantry Battalion on March 22, 1916 and was examined by a medical doctor soon afterwards. In his Medical History of an Invalid, the doctor noted that Evans had Arterial Sclerosis and Cardiac Hypertrophy, along with Alcoholism, accompanied by shortness of breath, making him unable to perform his duties.

Evans was discharged as "Medically Unfit" at Davenport Barracks in Toronto, on May 23, 1916, after 315 days' service. Almost ten weeks later, he re-enlisted with the Canadian Expeditionary Force, signing his second Attestation Paper (341949) with the 71st Infantry Battalion on August 8, 1916 in Hamilton, Ontario, stating his birth date as December 25, 1879, at the age of 36 (an eight year discrepancy versus his first enlistment), naming his next-of-kin as his wife, Alice Mary Evans of Toronto, stating that he had no previous military service (another discrepancy), that he was Married and that his trade was that of Miner (later acknowledged as Plasterer's Labourer). Before leaving for England, he was treated at Petawawa Camp for a case of Indigestion on October 13, 1916. Evans embarked Halifax, Nova Scotia aboard the S.S. Grampian on October 24, 1916, arriving in Liverpool, England on November 5th, then taken on strength of the Reserve Brigade, Canadian Field Artillery at Shorncliffe. Early in the new year, he suffered a setback, as he was admitted to Moore Barracks Canadian Hospital at Shorncliffe on January 16, 1917, where he was again diagnosed with Indigestion and Arterial Sclerosis. His condition did not improve. He was taken on strength of the 1st Brigade, Canadian Field Artillery at Shorncliffe on June 22, 1917, then posted to the Canadian Discharge Depot at Buxton on July 19th for return to Canada. He was struck off strength on August 14th and returned to Canada aboard the S.S. Megantic. Upon arrival in Canada, he was admitted to a Convalescent Home on August 28th, where he would remain for two weeks, before being placed under the auspices of the Military Hospitals Commission Command in Toronto, as an out patient, from September 12 to December 31, 1917. During one his medical examinations, the doctor noted that Evans' Aortic Sclerosis and Arterial Sclerosis had been aggravated by service, that he had "V.D.H." (Valvular Disease of the Heart), with Aortic Regurgitation, combined with severe Alcoholism. Gunner William Archer Halesy Evans was discharged as "Medically Unfit" on December 31, 1917 in Toronto. He died on May 15, 1946, at the age of either 74 or 66, depending upon the birth dates he stated. His Memorial Cross was forwarded to his widow, Alice, on January 17, 1947. [C:42]