Private Evi William Sweetman Died 16-09-1914 aged 35

Evi Sweetman was born in 1883 in Upavon.

In the 1891 Census Evi is living with his father George, and Agricultural Labourer and his mother Martha, Evi was the youngest child at this time, he had an eldest brother called Anes, and 2 older sisters Annie, and Fanny. Anes is a Farm Labourer.

In 1901, the Family is still in Upavon, but Evi is not at the house at the time of the Census, and I can’t currently find him in the Census.

In 1908 Evi Sweetman’s Father, George , died.

In the 1911 Census Evi is living with his Mother Martha in Upavon and at this time he is an Army Reservist, also in the household is a grandson of Martha, Percival George Sweetman.

From the Commonwealth War graves Commission we see that Evi Sweetman was a member of the D Company, 1^st Battalion Wiltshire Regiment.

At the outbreak of War

1st Battalion, Wiltshire Regiment were based at at Tidworth with 7th Brigade, 3rd Division when war broke out in August 1914. They proceeded to France with the British Expeditionary Force, landing at Rouen on the 14th of August. They saw action in The Battle of Mons and the rearguard action at Solesmes, The Battle of Le Cateau, The Battle of the Marne, The Battle of the Aisne, at La Bassee, Messines and the First Battle of Ypres.

Private Evi Sweetman, 6411, "D" Coy. 1st Battalion, Wiltshire Regiment died on 16 September 1914 Age 35, we believe he died at the first Battle of Aisne (13^th -15^th September 1914). Remembered with Honour, at La Ferte-Sous-Jouarre Memorial.