Current Information:

Enlisted-Kingston

Carnoy Military Cemetery, France 

In early June, 1916, 18th Division, including 8th East Surrey of 55 Brigade, moved south to the Somme sector in preparation for the great offensive soon to be unleashed there. On 10th June the battalion moved into the front line near Carnoy, opposite the enemy trenches in front of Montauban. At 11.30pm on 13th June, 1916 the enemy opened up an intense bombardment of the trenches held by 8th East Surrey. This continued to shortly after midnight at which time the barrage lifted from the front line and targeted the support trenches for twenty minutes. After this the enemy shelling subsided gradually but not so the British artillery, which had opened up in retaliation and kept firing for another hour. Unfortunately much of this fell short and added to the casualty list sustained by 8th East Surrey which totalled more than fifty officers and men. Among their number was William Evans who was killed in action.