Thank you to Jim Edwards and Lenka Cathersides for this research.
Frederick Jack Eveleigh was born on 22nd September 1896 in Dorking, Surrey to shoemaker Cecil Collman and Elizabeth (nee Pidler). Frederick was baptised on 14th January 1906 at St Paul’s Church in Dorking. At the time of his baptism the family lived at 45 Falkland Road, Dorking.
Frederick’s father Cecil Collman Eveleigh was born in the 4th quarter of 1853 in Whimple, Devon to shoemaker and bootmaker Thomas, born about 1831 Plymtree, Devon and Mary, born about 1828 in Whimple. Cecil was baptised on 25th February 1854 in Whimple. Frederick’s mother Elizabeth was born in the 2nd quarter of 1865 in Alphington, Devon to gardener John, born about 1812 in Bideford, Devon and Eliza, born about 1826 in Lapford, Devon. Cecil and Elizabeth were married on 22nd January 1881 in St Peter’s Church in Islington. At the time of their marriage Cecil was a bootmaker and the couple lived at 38 Alfred Street.
Frederick had four known siblings: Cecil Howard Hugh, born about 1882 and Walter George Rowland born on 20th February 1884, both in Peckham. Austin Edwin Archibald born about 1887 and Allen Harold Stanley born about 1894, both in Dorking.
At the time of the 1901 Census, the family lived at 45 Falkland Road. Cecil was working as a shoemaker and Elizabeth was at home looking after their children: timber merchant’s clerk Cecil; timber merchant’s office boy Walter, Austin, Allen and Frederick.
© Surrey History Centre findmypast.co.uk
On 19th September 1910 Frederick was admitted into Dorking High School for Boys.
At the time of the 1911 Census, the family lived at 45 Falkland Road. Cecil was still working as a bootmaker and Elizabeth was at home. The household further comprised of their children: Austin; gentleman’s servant Allen and Frederick and a boarder Anne Raffe. Elizabeth stated that she had given birth to six children of whom five were still alive. The accommodation had five rooms.
Frederick’s mother Elizabeth died in 1917 in Dorking.
In the 1918 Electoral Register reads that Frederick, Cecil and Allen lived at 45 Falkland Road, Dorking.
Frederick enlisted in 1915 in Wimbledon into the East Surrey Regiment. He was a Private with regimental number 3172. At the time of his enlistment he lived in Dorking, where he was working as a clerk at Messrs H.G. Kingham and Co. Ltd in Station Road in Dorking.
Later he was transferred into the Norfolk Regiment. He remained a Private and his new regimental number was 202750.
At the time of his death he was part of the 18th Battalion, the Machine Gun Corps (Infantry). He was a Private with regimental number 143665. He was a dispatch raider in the Machine Gun Corps.
Roll of Honour
Pte. F. J. Eveleigh, dispatch rider in the M.G.C. youngest son of Mr. and Mrs. C. Eveleigh of Falkland Road, Dorking was killed on June 16th by an enemy shell. He was educated at Dorking High School, and previous to enlisting was employed as a clerk at Messrs H.G. Kingham and Co. Ltd
Frederick Eveleigh Death Notice 6th July 1918 © Surrey Advertiser findmypast.co.uk
Frederick was killed by a shell which exploded close to him on the afternoon of 16th June 1918, in France.
DESPATCH RUNNER’S DEATH
Mr. C. Eveleigh of Falkland Road, Dorking has received news of the death of their youngest son, Pte. Jack Eveleigh, Machine Battalion. According to a letter from his company commander, Private Eveleigh was killed on the afternoon of June 16th, by a shell that exploded close to him. The officer adds: “He was one of my headquarters runners, and was always a very good lad who did his work.” The chaplain writes expressing the widespread sympathy of both officers and men of the company, and says that Pte. Eveleigh “was one of the best and most trustworthy despatch runners in the battalion. ” Pte. Eveleigh was an old Dorking High School boy, and at the time he joined the army in 1915 was employed as a clerk at Messrs Kingham’s stores in Station Road.
Frederick Eveleigh Death Notice 6th July 1918 © Dorking Advertiser findmypast.co.uk
Ribemont Communal Cemetery
Roll of Honour © CWGC.org
He was re-buried at the Ribemont Communal Cemetery Extension, Somme, France. His cemetery reference number is: IV.L.3. The headstone bears the inscription: “For England”.
He received the British War and Victory medals.
Frederick’s father Cecil received £11 and 6d on 20th October 1918; £2, 8s and 9d on 7th April 1919 and a further £14 and 10s on 26th November 1919 in Soldier’s Effects. Cecil lived at 77 Nower Road, Dorking.
| Born | Dorking, Surrey | |
| Lived | Dorking, Surrey | |
| Son of | Cecil Collman and Elizabeth Eveleigh | |
| School | Dorking High School 1910-1913 (Ashcombe School) | |
| Enlisted | Wimbledon | |
| Regiment | 18th Battalion, Machine Gun Corps | |
| Number | 143665 | |
| Former Regiment | 3172 East Surrey Regiment | |
| Date of Death | 16th June 1918 | |
| Place of Death | France | |
| Cause of Death | Killed in Action | |
| Age | 21 | |
| Cemetery | Ribemont Communal Cemetery Extension |
