Benjamin Idris Evans (known as Idris) was born in the Spring of 1892. He was one of the 10 children of Evan Caronian and Catherine Evans. According to the 1901 Census, his father worked as an Ancillary Postman and his mother was a Dressmaker and the family lived at 10 Chapel Street, Tregaron. Idris’s son added; My grandmother [Catherine] ran a seamstress school, with up to six students, in a “schoolroom” attached to the house at 10 Chapel Street.

Idris was educated at the local Council School along with his best friend, Jack Lewis; their first language was Welsh. After he left school he went into the drapery business, travelling around the country working in Cardiff, Dublin, London and Swansea. In the 1911 Census, he was listed as a Salesman working for Morgan & Co Drapery in Cardiff.

Idris Evans enlisted in early 1915, this was reported in the local newspaper; Two others who have recently joined the colours and were home over Easter were Driver Jack Lewis and Driver Idris Evans of the 1st Welsh Howitzers Brigade, R.F.A., stationed at Swansea. They were in the same school, went to London to the same shop, left for Swansea together, and enlisted in the same regiment at the same time.

His obituary in the Welsh Gazette continues his story: He was severely gassed and wounded in the Spring of 1918, when he was invalided home. He never completely recovered from its ill effects.

After demobilsation, he entered the College at Aberyswyth, where he graduated B.Sc. in 1923. He was then appointed Clerk to the Tregaron District Council and Board of Guardians, and for six years carried out the duties of his office with great success. He was most proficient in his work, and during these years devoted himself to study to equip himself for work in a wider sphere…. While in Tregaron, he was a faithful and active member of Bwlchgwynt Chapel.

In 1930 he was appointed Public Assistance Officer for Montgomeryshire, and he at once displayed his ability in the position. He was in all respects a most efficient public officer with a remarkable grasp of the work that had to be done in organizing the Poor Law arrangements in the county in accordance with the new Act….

During his leisure hours he assiduously devoted himself to his studies, and lately passed his second examination for qualification as a barrister. He had intended completing his course at an early date.

In December 1930, he married Miss Hilda Thomas, domestic science mistress at the Tregaron County School, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. David Thomas, Brynderwen, Mountain Ash. Mrs. Evans with her eighteen month old son, John David Idris, are left to mourn the loss of one deeply endeared to them.

Mr Idris Evans was at Aberyswyth for his holiday when he contracted a serious illness which culminated in his untimely death on Wednesday midnight at the age of 42.

Ben Idris Evans passed away on 26 September 1934 at the Cambria Nursing Home in Aberyswyth.

His son kindly added the following; I was 18 months old when he died in 1934, so obviously I didn’t have the opportunity to know my father so I can but pass on what I have been told by family and those who knew him well.

He was very much a family man, very popular, loyal and a real gentleman. He was very sociable, enjoyed tennis and had a very good Tenor voice.

At work he showed a great attention to detail, his preparation for meetings would be correct and precise. He was fair and considerate of others, particularly the less fortunate in life.

The notes I have of his preparation for the Bar exams are meticulous. He was in Aberystwyth at the University taking his Bar finals when he became ill with pneumonia and was unable to cope due to the effect of being gassed in the war. He died in hospital there.

I also have the clock presented to my father when he left Tregaron to go to Montgomeryshire. It still runs and is an excellent timekeeper, I do ensure that it is always kept well wound up and to the best of my knowledge it has been cleaned and serviced only once in about 1970. The inscription reads- “Presented to Mr B. Idris Evans BSc by the members of the Tregaron and District D&D, S&S Club as a token of appreciation of his valuable service 24 Dec 1929.” I was led to believe that D&D, S&S referred to Discharged and Disabled Soldiers and Sailors (there being no Air Force !!).

Benjamin Idris Evans enlisted as a Driver in the 1st Welsh (Howitzer) Brigade between the 10th and 15th March 1915 with his friend from Tregaron, Jack Lewis. Unfortunately, his service record has not survived; however using surviving fragments of information it is possible to give an outline of his service.

Dvr Evans would have been issued a service number by the Brigade when he joined, whilst no records confirm this, based on the other members of the Brigade, it is likely to have been 1242.

He would have started his training in Swansea at the Brigade Depot and other members of the Brigade who joined at the same time mentioned spending much time training in North Wales.

After completing his training, it is likely that he was posted to the 2nd Line of the Brigade that was based in England spending time in Winchester, Bedford, St Neots and East Anglia.

Several newspaper articles make reference to him returning home on leave in 1915 and 1916, including one in October 1915 which reads: Driver Idris Evans, and Driver Jack Lewis, both of the R.F.A., Welsh Howitzer Brigade, are at home on a short furlough. Both look pictures of health, though Evans has lately been in hospital through an accident to his knee.

His obituary provides further information: He rose to be drill instructor in gunnery, riding and signalling, refusing a Commission which was offered him. He saw active service in France, where he was severely gassed and wounded in the Spring of 1918, when he was invalided home.

His exposure to gas was reported by the Cambrian News & Merioneth Standard on 9 April 1918: Mr J.M. Evans , 10 Chapel-street, received a telegram on Thursday that his brother (Gunner Idris Evans) was lying dangerously ill (gassed) in France, and letters were received on Friday from the Matron and Chaplain confirming the message. A telegram from the Matron was again received on Tuesday that Gunner Evans showed slight improvement; but was not out of danger.

On 2 May 1918, the Welsh Gazette reported; Gunner Idris Evans…, who three weeks ago was reported dangerously ill in a hospital in France as the result of his being gassed, was removed on Sunday to Leicester. He is progressing favourably.

Gunner Evans returned to Tregaron in late July 1918 to continue his recovery and was ultimately discharged from the Army on 16 February 1919. His pension record makes reference to him suffering from the long term effects of gassing and as a result of this, he received a military pension for the rest of his life.

For his service, Gunner Benjamin Idris Evans was awarded the British War Medal and the Victory Medal.

His obituary added: He also became a leader among the ex-servicemen in their Club, and was chairman of the British Legion branch from its inception until his departure from the town [Tregaron]. He continued his interest in the ex-Service Men’s Club, and was this year’s president.