Herbert Bevan was born in Bagillt, Flintshire during 1895.
In 1901 the family lived at 3 Foulkes Terrace, Station Road, Bagillt, Flintshire. The head of the family was Thomas Bevan aged 43, who was employed as a Wheelwright at Bettisfield Colliery, Bagillt. His wife Susannah Bevan aged 44 and their four children – Edward Arthur Bevan aged 10, Margaret Alice Bevan aged 8, Herbert Bevan aged 7 and John Ernest Bevan aged 5 years.
The 1911 Census tells us that the family were still living at 3 Foulkes Terrace, Station Road, Bagillt. Thomas Bevan was now employed as a Coal Miner at Bettisfield Colliery. His wife Susannah Bevan was now 54 and the four children were still living at home. Edward Arthur Bevan and Herbert Bevan were both employed at Bettisfield Colliery as Colliery Labourer’s.
UK Soldiers Who Died in The Great war 1914 -19 accessible on Ancestry tells us that Herbert enlisted in Flint and was killed in action on the 2nd March 1916. His medal index card also on Ancestry, details his medals and also records that his first theatre of war was in France and he entered it on the 27th September 1915.
County Herald Friday 17 March 1916. Private Tattum of Dolwen, near Bagillt Railway Station who is a member of 10th Battalion, Royal Welsh Fusiliers forwarded a post card. Date, last Thursday to his mother, stating that he was very sorry to inform her that Herbert Bevan was killed the other day. He was a cousin to Herbert Bevan, who is the son of Mr Thomas Bevan of Foulkes Terrace, near to the Railway Station and who is at present employed at a neighbouring Munitions Works. Tattum has also written to Miss Bevan, sister of the deceased soldier, under date of that 5 March, informing her that her brother was killed in action. He referred to the severity of the last engagement in which the Battalion participated and exhorts his female cousin to cheer up and trust in the Lord for he above could alone console and protect them through this awful strife. Signaller E. Williams of Bagillt writing to the father of Herbert Bevan. A shell came over and buried a few of the boys and Herbert and a couple more went to dig them out and then another shell came and buried them again. We made a charge and took the trenches all right, but after we had taken them, they gave us a bombardment. We shall never forget it.
On 17 September 1919 a payment of £5.18s 4d was made by the War Office to Margaret Bevan, this being monies owed to her brother Herbert prior to his death. There was also a further payment which was recorded as a War Gratuity of £6.0.0.
He is also remembered on the North Wales Heroes Memorial Arch, Deiniol Road, Bangor, North Wales.
There is a Flintshire Roll of Honour Card for Herbert Bevan at the County Archives Office, Hawarden, which was completed on 8 September 1919 by his sister Margaret Bevan.
