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Bevan, George Ewart

The 1911 census tells us that George Ewart Bevan lived in Bistre, Buckley where he was a 22 year old schoolteacher. He lived with his father John a brickworks labourer, his mother was Francis Esther  and his sisters  were Louisa May (15), Gertrude (14).

His address on the Flintshire Roll of Honour is Rhydygolau.

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This Grave in Mold Cemetery provides some Family History.

Aluir and Owen
The beloved twin sons of Robert and Mary Thomas
Rhydygoleu Mold
Who died in June 1892
Aged 10 months
‘Suffer little children to come unto me’
Also of Arthur
The beloved youngest son of the above
Who died December 5th 1918
Aged 23 yrears.
peace perfect peace.
Also of Lance Corporal G Ewart Bevan
Kings Liverpool Regiment
The beloved son – in -law of the above
Who was killed on the Somme
France August 4th 1916 aged 26 years
‘Greater love hath no man  ……
A man lay down his life for his friends.’

 

The rest difficult to read but refers to deaths of above named Robert and Mary Thomas

This grave tells us that George was a son in law which means he had a wife. Thanks to Cllr Chris Bithell who did some detective work for us, we now know that George married Elizabeth Thomas, daughter of Robert and Mary Thomas named above. She had one daughter also named Elizabeth who grew up, like so many at that time, never knowing her father. We understand from Chris that this daughter, Elizabeth moved to live in Sale Cheshire. This now makes sense of the story below.

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George Ewart Bevan’s Memorial Plaque rescued from a skip (See below)

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This particular piece of memorabilia came to us in the most unusual way. Pictured above are Lorna Guinn and her brother in law, Iraqi born Jamal. Jamal was working on a house clearance in Sale Cheshire. He and his workmates were told to empty the house. Certain items were earmarked for charity shops and the rest they were told to put in a skip. Knowing that Lorna had an interest in military matters, he ‘rescued’ the plaque which had been on the wall in the house and took it home to her. She googled George Ewart Bevan and  lo and behold she found this website. She contacted us and we arranged to go to her home and she kindly handed over the plaque. We would like to thank Lorna and Jamal for rescuing this small piece of history and for going to the trouble of finding us.

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Councillor Chris Bithell, Sheila Matthews with the plaque and Viv Williams February 2012

Memorial plaque returned to the family

Cllr Chris Bithel realised that he had connections with the family to which George Ewart Bevan belonged and he took us to meet Sheila Matthews his cousin. Sheila’s father was Ivor Thomas the brother of Elizabeth who married George Ewart Bevan.

Sheila grew up living next door to her grandmother and her Aunty ‘Bet’. She remembered that her mother once told her that Aunty Bet had been a bride, a mother and a widow all  within one year. Sheila thinks that Uncle Ewart and Aunty Bet got married in the Registery Office in Chester during one lunch time, (he was a teacher in Chester). She thinks she remembers a wedding photograph with him in uniform.

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And the wedding photograph turned up! Here they are. “Aunty Betty was a bride, a mother and a widow all within one year” Sheila told us

Sheila also thinks that it was her own parents who bought the circular frame for the plaque as a gift for Aunty Bet.

Aunty Bet never remarried. Ewart had been the love of her life.

Sheila is going to consult with other members of her family about who will become the ‘keeper’ of the plaque.

George Ewart Bevan (or Beavan) is also commemorated on the Buckley Memorial


Learn more about the other soldiers on the Mold Urban Memorial

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