He was born in 1893 in Pontypool. His mother was Elizabeth and his father was James.
His mother, Elizabeth Bevan was listed as his next of kin when he signed up for the war. Her address was Osborne House, Maes y Dre Mold. His enlistment papers suggest that he had previously been in the 1/5th RWF for a period of five years and he indicated that he would prefer a placement with his old battalion. (Might explain the additional regimental numbers)
The 1911 census records that Trevor aged 19 was an underground collier. The family was listed in 1911 at 64 Maes y Dre, Mold as follows..
Elizabeth Bevan aged 43. The children were, Trevor 19, Morgan13, Harold 11, James Herbert 10, Nellie 8, Elsie 6, Reginald 4, Grenville 2, Violet 7 months. The census return indicates that there had been 13 children born altogether so four of them were not at home.
Trevor married in 1916 in Prestwich, Lancashire. His wife was formerly Sarah F Bowater . His army records suggest that his medals should be sent to her at 11 Raglan st, Hough Lane, Lower Broughton. Another form bearing Sarah’s signature confirms receipt of his identity disc. As his widow she was awarded a pension of 13 shillings and ninepence per week.
His records state that he entered his first theatre of war on the 25th July 1915 in the Balkans. He arrived in Alexandria, Egypt in September 1916.
The following detailed piece has been researched and written by Mike Plant who is a volunteer researcher at The Royal Welsh Fusiliers Museum in Wrexham. Many thanks to Mike for permission to reproduce the extracts here.
Military Records. During 1911 Trevor joined the 5th Battalion RWF Territorial Force at Hawarden as private 842. His medical records along with a record of his summer training camp suggest that he was excused working at the pit for a week or two every summer. On August 5th 1914 he was taken on strength to the 5th Reserve Battalion. He was then drafted as part of the Mediterranean Expeditionary force in July1915 and posted to Gallipoli to fight against the forces of the Turkish Ottoman Empire. This was among the bloodiest encounters of the whole war and was eventually abandoned with terrible loss of life. He was one of the 390 “other ranks” wounded on August 10th 1915 in Lala Baba, Gallipoli with a GSW (gunshot wound) to the leg, dressed in a casualty clearing station and then transferred to the base depot for more treatment. The war diary pages attached give an account of that day. He was later transferred back to Britain from Alexandria in Egypt on HMS Magnificent on 11th February 1916 as his initial Military service time had expired. However that is not the end of his military service!
On July 19th 1916 in Wrexham he was re-engaged and called up again for service as part of the Egyption Expeditionary Force as private 4603 5th battalion. Conscription had been introduced following heavy losses particularly in the Somme area. On September 6th he embarked on the H.T Empress of Britain from Devonport arriving in Alexandria nine days later. A week later he joined his battalion in the field. Two of the major battles in 1916 and early 1917 were at Rumani and the first of three battles to take Gaza. On November 18th Trevor was promoted to the rank of Lance Corporal (unpaid) but was later granted an increase in pay and a new service number.
The First Battle of Gaza commenced on March 26th 1917 when the EEF attempted to take the Ottoman controlled town of Gaza on the Mediterranean coast. This involved infantry and mounted troops and was on the verge of success but late in the afternoon the order to retire was issued due to concerns that darkness was imminent and the advantage was lost. It was during these actions that Trevor was killed. A few weeks later another attack was launched with even more casualties and a similar result.
