Norwood News – Friday 20 October 1944
Image © Trinity Mirror. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.

Norwood News – Friday 20 October 1944

HE STAYED AT ARNHEM
To Look after Our Wounded

MR. AND MRS. EVANS, Newlands-road, who have lived in Norbury for over 30 years, received news last week that their son, C.Q.M.S. Herbert William Evans (aged 26) had been posted missing from Arnhem.

C.Q.M.S. Evans went into a Norwood estate agent’s office when he left Norbury Manor School at the age of fifteen. Joining up at the beginning of the war, he served in the R.A.M.C. in North Africa and Italy before taking a part in the Invasion of Holland. He was in Montgomery’s Division in Italy, so when “Monty” came back for the invasion, he came, too.

C.Q.M.S. Evans was attached to the airborne troops, and played his part in the heroic stand at Arnhem. When the troops were being evacuated, volunteers from the R.A.M.C. were asked to remain behind to care for the wounded, and amongst that group of tired but valiant volunteers was our Norbury hero. Our men moved out and the Germans moved in, to find our medical orderlies busy with the wounded.

C.Q.M.S. Evans is at present “missing,” but it is hoped soon to hear that he is a prisoner-of-war.

Note that Q.M.S. meant Quartermaster Sergeant.

The 1939 Register shows him living with his parents at 5, Newlands Road, Croydon:

William Evans, born 15th February 1874, privately employed gardener
Phoebe E. Evans, born 20th September 1878, housewife
Herbert W. Evans, born 10th February 1918, assistant to Surveyor, Valuer & Estate Agent

Schedule Number: 170
Sub Schedule Number: 3
Enumeration District: CLDD
Registration district: 39-1

Source: The National Archives; Kew, London, England; 1939 Register; Reference: RG 101/1282H

Thanks go to the comment made on this post by the Half Muffled blog, that there are more details on the Find My Past website:

British Army Casualty Lists 1939-1945

Previously reported Missing believed Prisoner of War
now reported Prisoner of War in German hands (Germany)

Royal Army Medical Corps

Service No. 7364544 EVANS H.W.
Rank A/W.O.II (Q.M.S.)
H.Q.1 Airborne Div.

Previous List No. 1581
Date of Missing Casualty : 25.09.44

England & Wales Deaths 1837-2007

Herbert William Evans, born 10th February 1918, died second quarter of 1994

District Isle of Wight
District number 5561B
Register number B56A
Entry number 271
Date of registration 05/1994