Henry Cope Evans D.S.O. 1879 - 1916
Henry Cope, Evans D.S.O. 1879 - 1916;
Born at Hampstead, London, Middlesex on the 26th of July 1879.Living at 90 Finchley Road, Hampstead, London, Middlesex, in the 1881 census.
Educated at Mr.Fendall's, Woodcote House, Windlesham, Surrey, unknown dates.
Visitor at Woodland Road, Camberley, Surrey, in the 1891 census.
Educated at Haileybury, Hertford Heath, Hertfordshire between 1893 and 1896.
Emigrated to Canada, aged 19. Embarked the S.S. Mongolian, at Liverpool and arrived at St. John, New Brunswick and Halifax, Nova Scotia on the 17th of April 1899. Henry moved to Canada to learn fruit picking.
Enlisted at St. Catherines, Ontario, Canada on the 29th of December 1899, aged 19.
Henry's was 6ft. 1.5in. tall, weighed 165lbs, with a dark complexion, black hair, hazel eyes and a birth mark above his left hip. Occupation given as Farmer.
C Battery Royal Canadian Artillery.
Driver.
No. 89.
Posted to South Africa (2nd Boer War), arriving in March 1900.
Invalided back to Canada with illness, unknown date.
Discharged at Grimsby, Ontario, Canada, on the 10th of January 1901.
Awarded the Queen's South Africa Medal 1899-1902, with clasps, Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Transvaal and Rhodesia.
Living at Clinton, Ontario, Canada, in the 1901 census of Canada. Henry now aged 21, is working as a Labourer.
Living at Mcleod, Alberta, Canada, in the 1911 census of Canada. Henry now aged 31, is working as a Farmer
Henry was a rancher and government-appointed range rider living in Macleod, Alberta. He was described at the time as a "keen sportsman and fine horseman" as well as a polo player.
Enlisted at Valcartier, Quebec, Canada on the 23rd of September 1914.
Henry's height was given as 6ft. 2in., chest measured when fully expanded 39.5in, fresh complexion, with blue eyes and dark hair. Henry's occupation was given as Rancher, and next of kin (Mother) was living at West Point, Camberley, Surrey.
19th Alberta Dragoons, 1st Canadian Divisional Cavalry Squadron.
Trooper.
No. 1951.
The 19th Dragoons were posted to England in October 1914.
Promoted to Lance Corporal on the 17th of December 1914.
Posted to the Canadian Expedtionary Force in France, disembarking at St. Nazaire on the 11th of February 1915.
Promoted to Corporal on the 25th of June 1915.
Admitted to Field Ambulance on the 6th of July 1915, suffering with blood poisoning. Rejoined unit on the 16th of July 1915.
Granted leave to England on the 6th of August 1915, until rejoining unit on the 14th of August 1914.
Promoted to Sergeant, unknown date.
Commissioned as a Temporary 2nd Lieutenant and transferred to the Royal Flying Corps on the 13th of September 1915 at St.Omer, France.
Graded as a Flying Officer (Observer) on the 13th of December 1915.
Posted to England on the 26th of January 1916, to undertake Pilot training.
Completed his Pilot training and received Royal Aero Club Aviator's Certificate No.2603, flying a Maurice Farman biplane, at the Military Flying school at Farnborough, Hampshire, on the 26th of March 1916.
Henry's residence at the time of his pilot training was given as West Point, Camberley, Surrey.
Graded as Flying Officer (Pilot) on the 15th of May 1916.
Posted to the 24th Squadron, Royal Flying Corps, in France on the 4th of July 1916.
24th Sqd. flew the Airco DH2., a single-seat biplane, designed by Geoffrey de Havilland.
Airco DH2.
On the 20th of July 1916, 2nd Lieutenant H.C. Evans scored his first 'Kill' as a fighter pilot. At about 8.20.pm, whilst flying an Airco Dh.2., Registration No.7842, near to Fleurs, France, he forced down (Out of Control) a German LFG. Roland C.II reconnaissance aircraft.
On the 21st of July 1916, at about 8.25.pm near to Combles, France, Henry shot down and destroyed an unidentified German aircraft, whilst flying Airco DH.2., Registration No. 5924.
On the 6th of August 1916, at about 9.15.am, east of Bois de Vaux, France, Henry shot down and destroyed a German LVG C. reconnaissance and artillery spotting aircraft, whilst flying Airco DH.2., Registration No. 7876.
On the 8th of August 1916, at about midday, east of Bapaume, France, Henry shot down and destroyed a German LFG. Roland C.II reconnaissance aircraft, whilst flying Airco DH.2., Registration No. 7878.
German LFG. Roland C.II
On the 9th of August 1916, at about 8.15.am, near to Achiet le Grand, France, Henry shot down and destroyed an unidentified German aircraft, whilst flying Airco DH.2., Registration No. 7878. This was Henry's fifth 'Kill' as a fighter pilot and he was now considered an Ace.
An Ace is a military aviator or airman credited with shooting down five or more enemy aircraft. The term Ace originated in World War I when French newspapers described Adolphe Pègoud as l'as (French for ace) after he shot down five German aircraft.
Missing In Action and presumed killed on the 3rd of September 1916, aged 37.
Henry was shot down by German anti-aircraft fire, whilst on a morning offensive patrol over the British Fourth Army front.
Awarded the Distinguished Service Order, as reported in the London Gazette, Supplement 29760, Page 9268, published on the 22nd of September 1916.
"Temp. 2nd Lt. Henry Cope Evans, Gen. List, attd. R.F.C.
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."
Distinguished Service Order
No known Grave.
Remembered on the Arras Flying Services Memorial, Arras, France.
Remembered on the Camberley War Memorial.
Son of Mr. W. H. Evans and Mrs. Alice M. Evans, of West Point, Camberley, Surrey.
Lest We Forget.
Lee Thomas,
July 2014.