Bevan, Arthur Cyril

Arthur Cyril Bevan was born on 26 December 1882 in Stanwell, Middlesex, England. His parents were James Frederick Bevan and Hannah Parker. Fourth born in a large family, Arthur’s siblings included: James Parker (1876-1913), George Parker (1878-1920), Madge (1880-1932), Lilian Mary (1884-1939), Parker Samuel (1886-1962), Dorothy Hannah (1888-1953), Gordon Frederick (1889-1915), Constance Theresa (1890-1972), Ernest Victor (1892-1915), Cynthia May (1895-1932) and Olive Grace (1895-1933). Father, James Frederick Bevan died in 1895 leaving Hannah with 12 children to care for.

By 1901 the family was living in Corydon, Surrey, England and Arthur was working as a wholesale drapery clerk.  In August of 1907, Arthur and his brother Gordon immigrated to Canada. They were followed by sister Dorothy in 1909 and sister Constance in 1910. Arthur married Emeline Ada Kinnersly Baker on 09 June 1909 in Kenora, Ontario. Gordon and Dorothy were witnesses at the wedding. Arthur’s occupation at the time was ‘clerk’ in the CPR office. The 1911 Canadian Census shows the couple living in Kenora and Arthur’s occupation as ‘merchant’.

When WWI broke out, Arthur quickly enlisted. He joined the Princess Patricia Canadian Light Infantry Reserve Battalion on 22 December 1914 in Winnipeg, listing previous military service of 4 years with the ‘territorials’. His unit proceeded overseas on 20 January 1915 and by the beginning of March 1915 Arthur was with the PPCLI in France. During fighting at the Ypres salient he was wounded on 02 May 1915 when he received a gun shot wound to his right thigh. Arthur was returned to England and spent six months in several hospitals and convalescent centres. His recovery was complicated by the onset of arthritis – a condition attributed to his ‘exposure in service’. Arthur was struck off strength to Canada on 05 November 1915 and received his official discharge due to being medically unfit for further service on 07 June 1916 in Winnipeg.

Arthur returned to Kenora, but he and Emeline didn’t remain in the community for long. By 1918 they were living in Medford, Oregon. Arthur was working as book keeper for the California and Oregon Power Company when he signed his registration papers for the US WWI Draft on 11 September 1918. The 1920 US Census shows Arthur and Emeline still living in Medford and Arthur’s occupation is ‘cashier in office’. A daughter, Barbara, was born in 1924. By 1930 Arthur was a ‘cigar store merchant’ in Medford.

Arthur Cyril Bevan passed away on 09 July 1933 in Medford, Oregon. He is buried in Siskiyou Memorial Park Cemetery.

Four of Arthur’s brothers also served in WWI:

Gordon Frederick Bevan (#16861) enlisted with the 7th Battalion in Valcartier, Quebec on 23 September 1914. He was single and worked as a florist. His unit sailed to England on 30 October 1914 and he was in France by February 1915. Gordon was killed by a sniper on 16 March 1915 and he is buried in Rue-David Military Cemetery, Fleurbaix, France.

Ernest Victor Bevan went to Australia in 1914 to take up farming. He enlisted with the 6th Battalion Australian Imperial Force shortly after the war broke out in September 1914. Ernest left for Egypt with the main force in October 1914. He went to the Dardanelles in April of 1915 and was killed in action there on 08 May 1915, being bayoneted in a Turkish attack on the trenches at Anzac. Ernest’s final resting place is unknown but he is commemorated on Helles Memorial in Gallipoli, Canakkale, Turkey.

George Parker Bevan served as a senior officer with the Royal Navy in the Persian Gulf. Captain Bevan was awarded the Albert Medal in 1918 for gallantry in saving life at sea. He died due to sickness on 14 January 1920 in Yemen and is buried in Maala Cemetery, Yemen.

Parker Samuel Bevan trained as a mechanical engineer and draughtsman. In September 1911 he immigrated to New Zealand. During WWI he served with the New Zealand medical corps.

Grave marker photo: Bill Erickson, findagrave.com

 

 

 

 

 

 

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