Henry Evans (RFC officer)

Second Lieutenant Henry Cope Evans (26 July 1880 – 3 September 1916) was a World War I flying ace credited with five aerial victories, all gained while flying the Airco DH.2.

Biography Evans was the only son of W. H. and Alice M. Evans of West Point, Camberley, Surrey, and was educated at Woodcote House School, Windlesham, and Haileybury. As a young man Evans emigrated to Ontario to learn fruit farming. He enlisted in the Royal Regiment of Canadian Artillery during the Second Boer War, and served in South Africa for a year as part of "C" Battery. On returning to Canada he took up ranching near Macleod, Alberta, and also held a Government appointment as Range Rider. A keen sportsman and horseman, he was well known as a polo player, and was one of the early pioneers of the game in Western Canada.

On 23 September 1914 at Valcartier, Quebec, he enlisted as a trooper in the 19th Alberta Dragoons, arriving in England with the 1st Canadian Contingent in November 1914. He served with the Dragoons in France from February until September 1915, was promoted to the rank of sergeant

He was transferred to the Royal Flying Corps and commissioned as a temporary second lieutenant on 13 September 1915, and on 25 September joined No. 24 Squadron RAF in action at the front,

Evans was posted to Home Establishment on 26 January 1916 for pilot training, being appointed a flying officer on 15 May, and being granted the Royal Aero Club Aviator's Certificate No. 2603, after flying a Maurice Farman biplane at the Military Flying School, Farnborough, on 23 May. and as his remains were never recovered he is commemorated at the Arras Flying Services Memorial.

Honours and awards Both of Evans' awards were gazetted posthumously, on 22 September 1916 and 2 January 1917 (dated 13 November 1916), respectively.

Distinguished Service Order Temporary Second Lieutenant Henry Cope Evans, General List, attached Royal Flying Corps. For conspicuous gallantry and skill on many occasions in attacking hostile aircraft, frequently against large odds. In one fortnight he brought down 4 enemy machines, returning on one occasion with his machine badly damaged.

Mention in Dispatches In a long list of officers noted by General Sir Douglas Haig, Commander-in-Chief of the British Armies in France.