Cecil Arnold's Story.
Birkenhead News 24 February 1917Three Friends.
All Die for their Country.
It is with regret that we announce the death, as the result of pneumonia, of Cecil Leslie Evans, Shropshire Light Infantry, and late of the Denbighshire Yeomanry. He is one and the last of three staunch friends to die whilst in the service of the country, the others being Pte. Jack Ross, Liverpool Scottish, who has never been heard of since the early days of the war and was presumably killed, and Pte. Bisson, son of the late Captain Bisson.
Pte. Evans joined up two months after the outbreak of the war, and being an excellent horseman joined the Denbighshire Yeomanry Hussars. After many months training with that unit he transferred to the Shropshire Light Infantry, with which regiment he went to France. He was picked out by his officers as a first-class and reliable lewis gunner, and after working his gun at the front for some time he caught what he termed in a letter home as a “slight chill,” and had hopes of seeing “Blighty,” but, alas! he got worse and died of pneumonia in a hospital behind the lines. Pte. Evans was a fine specimen of manhood, standing about 6 feet in height. He was educated at the Higher Elementary School, Conway Street, where he was a general favourite with the teachers and fellow scholars alike. Amongst other things he took a great interest in boxing, and carried off more than one honour. Mr. and Mrs. Evans, who after residing in the Woodlands for many years, have now gone to live at 22, Hope Place, Liverpool, have received two letters of sympathy from their deceased son’s officers, one of whom writes :- “The Company has lost a first rate Lewis gunner who was very popular and always did his duty well. He was a credit to his late regiment, as well as to the one to which he was transferred.” The Lewis gun officer writes :- “He was one of the best Lewis gunners I had in the battalion, and could always be relied upon.”
The late soldier was in the employ of Messrs. Joseph Owens, timber merchants, Liverpool, where he also made himself a great favourite.
The above extract from the newspaper reports Cecil’s name as Cecil Leslie Evans when his correct name is Cecil Arnold Evans, as confirmed by birth and census records.