Edmund G. Evelegh
| Edmund George Evelegh was born on 10th November 1865 to Frederick Charles Evelegh, a retired Army Colonel and veteran of the Crimean War, and Maria Ann (née Hire). He was the penultimate of their twelve children. | ||||||||
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Edmund entered the Royal Marine Chatham Division on 1st September 1885 as a Lieutenant. From February to September 1888 he was stationed on H.M.S. Seahorse, a fleet tug and survey ship carrying two six-pounder guns on the forecastle, for special service in Scotland. After disembaking Seahorse to December 1889 he was stationed at H.M.S. Pembroke, a shore-based establishment at Sheerness serving as flagship and depot for the Nore Command. From December 1889 to March 1892 Edmund served aboard the Admiral-class battleship H.M.S. Camperdown and the Victoria-class battleship H.M.S. Victoria, both flagships of the Mediterranean Fleet. Victoria would later sink in 1893 following a collision between the two ships. Between March 1892 and January 1895 he was stationed once more with the Chatham Division, serving as Acting Adjutant and Quartermaster of the Gravesend musketry depot from October 1892. From January to May 1895 Edmund was stationed at the Walmer depot and was promoted to Captain on 1st April 1895. After leaving the depot he was transferred to the Portsmouth Division, serving there until June 1896. He married Ada Gwyn in June 1895. From June 1896 to October 1898 Edmund served in the Blake-class protected cruiser H.M.S. Blenheim, the Pembroke-class battleship H.M.S. Dreadnought, and the lead ship of the Admiral-class ironclad battleships, H.M.S. Collingwood. After disembarking Collingwood, he returned to the Portsmouth Division. Edmund was appointed Instructor of Gunnery in March 1900. In May 1903 he was promoted to the rank of Major. He and Ada saw the arrival of a son, Edmund George, in 1906. He was appointed Brevet Lieutenant-Colonel in May 1910 and was granted the full rank the following November. |
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On 13th September 1914 Edmund was drafted to H.M.S. Victory for the Royal Marines Brigade and served as second-in-command of the Deal Battalion at Antwerp. On 21st November he was given command of the Nelson Battalion. Edmund landed at Gaba Tepe on 28th April and was actively engaged in the fighting in that area until the battalion moved to Cape Helles for the Third Battle of Krithia. He was twice gazetted for being Mentioned in Despatches:
Edmund was killed during the action around the Achi Baba Nullah on 13th July. He is buried in Skew Bridge Cemetery. | ||||||||
