Trafford

A Master Mariner, he joined the Merchant Navy in 1917.

Originally from Audenshaw, he and his family had lived at Ashton on Mersey
for 3 - 4 years.

The 06/02/42 edition of the local newspaper reports that Captain Evans had
been awarded the O.B.E. for bravery when his ship was torpedoed and sunk in
October 1940. All his crew were saved after he and his crew had been adrift
for 9 days before bing rescued by a trawler and landed at Iceland.   He had
been on the same ship for 11 years.

"Merchant Ship Losses to Axis Submarines 1939-1945" - Captain William Evans
was the Captain of the 6,866 GRT -  PACIFIC RANGER that was torpedoed by
U-59 (Matz) on the 12th October 1940.  Part of Convoy HX77 sunk in position
56.20 N x 11.43 W, whiilst on voyage from Vancouver to Manchester via
Pnanma and Bermuda.   All 54 of the crew managed to get into three
lifeboats and were saved.

"U-Boat.net" - At 18.03 hours on the 12th October 1940 the Pacific Ranger
(Master William Evans) in convoy HX-77, carrying 8,235 tons of general
cargo, including lumber and metal, was hit amidships by one torpedo from
U-59 and sank slowly 134 miles 302° from Bloody Foreland.  The U-boat
tried to give provisions to the survivors in the lifeboats, but due to
rough seas it did not work.  The master, 52 crew members and two passenger
(naval ratings) were rescued: 19 crew members were picked up by a British
escort, the master and twelve survivors after nine days by the Icelandic
trawler Þormóður and landed at Reykjavik on 21 October and the chief
officer and 22 crew members made landfall at Glencolumbkille near
Killybegs, Co. Donegal.

06/11/42 edition of local paper reports his death, which was rather
mysterious.   He telephoned his daughter who was a Nurse at an Ashton on
Mersey Nursing Home to say that he was hurrying home on leave and that as
he had had no sleep for several nights, he was looking forward to having a
good nights sleep at home.    Although his family waited up for him to
arrive home, he didn't.   The following morning his body was found at the
side of the railway line between Cornbrook Rd and Dawson St/Egerton St Road
Bridge, Cornbrook.    Had he fallen asleep and woken up with a start,
thinking he was at Sale Station and stepped off the train ?

Buried at sALE (Brooklands) Cemetery, his funeral was reported in the
13/11/42 edition of the local newspaper, It was attended by his crew ,
including Mr. Stanley Clarke of Sale.

NOT COMMEMORATED BY THE CWGC