| |
Simon Peter Evans |
Surname |
Christian Names |
Service Number |
Rank |
Regiment |
Evans |
Simon Peter |
24493155 |
Gnr |
22 Location Battery, 16th Air Defence
Regiment, Royal Artillery |
Born |
Age |
Enlisted at |
Address |
Cardiff |
19 |
|
|
Date of Death |
Where killed |
Cause of Death |
16/12/1979 |
Near Dungannon, Co
Tyrone |
Bomb explosion |
Cemetery |
Plot |
Country |
Kington St Michael Churchyard |
|
England |
Next of Kin |
Next of kin address |
Town |
Peter and Doreen Evans |
|
Kington-St-Michael |
Notes |
One of 4 soldiers killed
when an IRA landmine detonated on the Ballygawley Road, near Dungannon, Co
Tyrone. The other 3 were
Gnr Keith Richards 19
Gnr Alan Ayrton, 21
Gnr William Beck 23
Young Soldiers Death in Ireland Shocks Home Village
A 19 year old soldier from Wiltshire was 1 of 4 who died in an IRA bomb
attack in Northern Ireland on Sunday.
Gunner Simon Peter Evans of The Close, Kington-St-Michael near Chippenham
and his comrades were killed in a Landrover which was blown up by a remote
control bomb near Dungannon, Co Tyrone.
His father Peter is a sales director for a soft drinks firm and his mother,
Doreen, is a nurse at Greenways maternity hospital.
Simon joined the Army 18 months ago. He had always been keen on service life
and his first choice was the Navy but the intakes were twice a year.
He trained at Woolwich and was based at Larkhill as a member of 22 Location
Battery of the Air Defence Regiment, Royal Artillery.
Simon spent a fortnight’s leave at home before going to Northern Ireland on
a 6 month tour of duty 8 days before the tragedy.
When his family moved to Wiltshire from Kent, Simon worked in a supermarket
and warehouse in Corsham.
He was not due home for Christmas and his parents threw a farewell party for
him. Among those attending were his 16 year old girlfriend Jeanette
Harrison, a pupil at Hardenhuish School.
It is reported that it was a 1000lb bomb which blew up the landrover.
Chippenham News 20 December 1979 "You have a
note about the death of 4 Gunners killed in a Land mine explosion: Simon
Peter Evans, Keith Richards, Alan
Ayrton and William Beck. They were members of 22 Locating Battery, Attached
to 16th Air Defence Regiment Royal Artillery (the Strathclyde
Gunners). It was a sad story! The Bomb was meant for the UDR who had set a
pattern of driving down the road at the same time each weekend to go to a
range. Some of the men were late that morning and our patrol set off before
them, not knowing about the regular movements of the UDR. Had the UDR
vehicles been hit the casualties would have been much greater. A gun battle
ensued between the remaining members of the patrol and the terrorist and
then with another foot patrol from 32 (Minden 1709) AD Bty; who gave chase
as best they could but were too far away and on foot over difficult
countryside.
We closed the Border at Aughnacloy but they avoided the crossing
point and made their escape deeper into Armagh."
Email from
Anthony BH dated 22 June 2018
|
Memorials Commemorated on: |
Chippenham Town War Memorial |
Yes |
Armed Forces Memorial, National Arboretum
"Cherished memories of our dear son SImon"
|
Last updated -
26/06/2018
If you have any more details about this person, please
contact me and I will update the page.
|