Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of William White (Bowley), a granite quarry labourer, born in the October quarter of 1856 in Shepshed, Leicestershire and baptised on the 18th January 1857 in the Church of St. James the Greater, Oaks in Charnwood, Leicestershire (son of John Bowley and Mary White, married on the 16th November 1857 in the Church of St. James the Greater, Oaks in Charnwood) and his wife Rose Ann Bowley (nee Bragg, married on the 12th October 1884 in the Church of St. James the Greater, Oaks in Charnwood), born in the April quarter of 1861 in Bradford, Dorset and baptised on the 5th May 1861 in the Church of St. Mary the Virgin, Bradford-Abbas, Dorset (daughter of Mark Bragg and Mary Bradley). Everard, a schoolboy, was born in the October quarter of 1895 in Shepshed, his siblings were, Mary Ann, a Griswold worker, born on the 20th March 1885 and baptised on the 12th July 1885 in the Church of St. James the Greater, Oaks in Charnwood, Elizabeth Ann, a Griswold worker, born on the 5th July 1886, Leonard, a schoolboy, born in the July quarter of 1888 and baptised on the 19th July 1891 in the Church of St. James the Greater, Oaks in Charnwood, Edith, a schoolgirl, born in the April quarter of 1891 and baptised on the 19th July 1891 in the Church of St. James the Greater, Oaks in Charnwood and Harold Joseph, a schoolboy, born on the 31st October 1898 and baptised on the 25th February 1899 in the Church of St. James the Greater, Oaks in Charnwood, all his siblings were born in Shepshed, in March 1901 the family home was at Fenny Hill, Shepshed. In April 1911 Everard was employed as a brickyard labourer and was residing in the family home at Iveshead Road, Shepshed, together with his father, a granite quarry fireman, his mother and siblings, Leonard, a stone quarry drill carrier and Harold, a schoolboy. Everard also had the following siblings, Florence Maggie, born in the January quarter of 1894 in Shepshed and who died in the April quarter of 1894 in Shepshed and Elsie May, born in the July quarter of 1901 in Shepshed and baptised on the 4th August 1901 in the Church of St. James the Greater, Oaks in Charnwood and who died in the April quarter of 1902 in Shepshed.
Everard’s Army enlistment documents do not survive, all that is known of his military service is that he enlisted in Leicester into the Leicestershire Regiment, and was allotted the service number 203730, and posted as a Private to that Regiment’s Depot for training, subsequently being posted to the 9th (Service) Battalion. It is unknown on what date Everard first entered the theatre of war in France, however as he was not recorded on the medal rolls for the 1914-15 Star, it must be assumed that it was at some time after the 31st December 1915. Nothing further is known of his military service until he was reported to have been killed in action on the 9th November 1917, while serving with the 9th Battalion of the Leicestershire Regiment. His body was never recovered and he is commemorated on the Tyne Cot Memorial, Zonnebeke, West Vlaanderen, Belgium. Everard was awarded the British War Medal and Victory Medal.
On the 4th June 1918 Everard’s mother was awarded a weekly Army Pension of three shillings and six pence, to commence on the 11th June 1918, on the 6th November 1918 this was increased under article 21 -1 (c) to five shillings weekly for life.
The War Diary records: 9 Nov-17 - TRENCHES. One enemy plane was observed to fall in flames about 1000 yards North of JOURNEL WOOD at 3.00 pm. At 5.15 pm the enemy barraged the ground between the front and support lines. Machine Gun activity was noticed from the two following approximate positions:- J.12.a.6.6 and J.12.b.05.60. (GHELUVELT) 23.N.E.3. Enemy post was located at JUDGE X ROADS.

Source: Leicestershire War Memorials Project.
Everard was born in Shepshed, Leicestershire Everard was the son of William Bowler born 1857 in Shepshed, Leicestershire, a Stone Quarry Fireman, and Rose Ann Bowley nee Bragg, born 1861 in Bradford, Derbyshire.
Everard’s siblings were all born in Shepshed: May Ann 1885 a ground worker at 16 years old, Elizabeth 1887 a ground worker at the age of 14, Leonard 1889 a Stone Quarry Drill Carrier at the age of 22, Edith 1892, Harold 1899.
Everard was a Buch Yard Labourer at the age of 15.
He resided with his family in Charnwood Road, Shepshed. Leicestershire

Military Service

Everard enlisted in Leicester

He was killed in action, on the 9th November 1917,in the Western European Theatre, in Belgium.

He is commemorated in Tyne Cot Memorial, Zonnebeke, West Vlaanderen, Belgium. Reference: Panel 50 to 51

He is remembered at the Clock Tower War Memorial, Coalville, Leicestershire, at St Peter’s Church, Copt Oak, Leicestershire, at St James the Greater Church, Oaks in Charnwood, Leicestershire, at the Council Office Memorial, Coalville, Leicestershire.
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Submitted by F. Tilley, 2016



Coalville Times article – Friday April 30th, 1920

WAR MEMORIAL AT COPT OAK CHURCH

WINDOW DECORATED BY THE BISHOP OF PETERBOROUGH

A large congregation was present at Copt Oak Church on Sunday morning to witness the dedication by the Bishop of Peterborough of a beautiful stained-glass window which has been placed in the church in memory of local men who gave their lives in the great war.

The window has three lights, the centre light being occupied by a warrior kneeling at the foot of Christ, with the inscription, “Faithful unto death, 1914 – 1918.” The following are the fallen who are commemorated:

S. Bowley, J. W. Brooks, J. H. Gibbins, H. Heggs, H. A. V. Hull, H. Hall, R. Irons, T. J. Kelham, A. H. Mason, G. H. Partner, P. B. Pearce, S. W. Richardson, H. Read, P. Tyers, S. A. Whyles and W. Wibberley.

Immediately preceding the service, a muffled peal was rung on the bells. The Rev. H. C. Gannell (vicar) took the first part of the service, which was fully choral, and the Rev. J. Martin, of Charley Hall, read the lessons. The special music rendered by the choir included the Te Deum (Hopkins) and the anthem, “Rejoice in the Lord” (Elvey). Mrs Gannell officiated at the organ, and at the close played the Dead March in “Saul.”

The Bishop, in his address from St. John, xx, 29, emphasised the power of the Resurrection, dealing with the introduction of Christianity into Britain, the progress made in Uganda, India and China. Instead of thinking of God as a kind of arch-magistrate seated on a distant star, we must think of one who is full of sympathy even for those whom many consider as beyond the pale. His Lordship continued, “We remember those gallant men who gave their lives in the war. They have cleared the way for a new Britain, a better Europe and a new world. Our task is to carry on, not to beat the Germans, but to form a truer fellowship, a lasting peace and goodwill. We must never falter until the great League of Nations is rooted and grounded in brotherly love, and a new comradeship is established, not every one grabbing for self, but each man loving his neighbour as himself.”

The congregation included many of the relatives of the deceased men. The collections at the services, including the Choral Communion Service at 8 am, at which the Bishop of Peterborough was the celebrant, were for the Window Fund. The service at 6.30 pm was taken by the Rev. T. W. Walters, Whitwick, Rural Dean.

Research undertaken and submitted by Andy Murby 22/5/2019