The son of the Rev. Arthur Evans and Margaret Emma Evans of 11 Marlborough Lane in Bath. He was a native of Snelston near Ashbourne. Richard is buried in BETHUNE TOWN CEMETERY, which was the location of the 33 Casualty Clearing Station.
Isaiah Bonner enlisted in June 1915 and arrived in France in 1916. He was killed during a German gas bombardment of the trenches held by the 1/6th Battalion in the evening of the 7/8th August.
Isaiah is buried with a number of other North Midland Territorials who were killed in the trenches during August 1917
Isaiah Bonner
7.8.1017 St Elie Sector:
Authors note: Both W Jackson and R Evans are difficult men to identify, but possibilities are:- Captain Robert Evans WO374/23140
1/6th Battalion War Diary [WO/95/2694]
6/7 Aug: Quiet days – weather gradually improving.
7/8 Aug: Our right sub sector heavily bombed by gas from trench mortars during the night. Our casualties very slight.
139 Infantry Brigade: Headquarters War Diary [WO95/2692]
5.8.1917 St Elie Sector: Battn relieved 5th Battn in RIGHT SUBSECTION.
1/6th Battalion War Diary [WO/95/2694]
5.8.1917: 2/Lt VH ARMITAGE MC awarded the Belgian Decoration “Chevalier de L’Ordre de la Boutonne”
Vernon Hay Armitage
C in C’s list No 145
To be Captain: Lieut CJ Wheatcroft
To be A/Capt: Lieut J Tolson and HH Jackson
To be Lieut: 2/Lt DS Fox
Cyril John Wheatcroft, Joseph Tolson, Humphry Henry Jackson and Donald Storrs-Fox
5.8.1917 St Elie Sector: Battn relieved 5th Battn in RIGHT SUBSECTION.
1/6th Battalion War Diary [WO/95/2694]
4/5 August: 8th Sherwood Foresters carried out a raid on Enemy trenches in G5C.
3014/305888 L/Cpl Herbert Taylor was missing presumed killed during the raid
5th Aug: Philosophe heavily shelled during the evening (over 350 shells fell)
Amongst the 1/5th Battalion men killed were:-
139 Infantry Brigade: Headquarters War Diary [WO95/2692]
No record in the 1/6th Battalion War Diary [WO/95/2694]
3/4 Aug: Heavy artillery and trench mortar barrage put down on our posts in the right sub sector during the night.
4/5 Aug: 8th Sherwood Foresters carried out a raid on enemy trenches in G5C.
139 Infantry Brigade: Headquarters War Diary [WO95/2692]
Although there is no record in the 1/6th Battalion War Diary two men of the Battalion were killed in action on this day in 1917.
4075/241346 Pte Jim Ramskill aged 36 and husband of Margaret Ramskill of 22 Aucklands Place off Beetwell St. in Chesterfield. Jim was an original rifle volunteer (Time Expired) who enlisted in September 1914 and was posted to the 11th (Service) Battalion Sherwood Foresters. He was discharged in February 1915 as medically unfit, but re-enlisted into the 3/6th Battalion in March 1915 and arrived in France in 1916. He served as a signaller with “A” Company and had previously been wounded on the 3rd June.
3829/241239 Pte Richard Walters enlisted in February 1915 and arrived in France in 1916 and was wounded on the 1st July 1916. His brother Walter, who served with the 1st Battalion, was also killed in action on the 21st July 1915. Richard Walters was the husband of Sarah Walters of 3 South Place off Barker Lane in Brampton Chesterfield. See here
Jim Ramskill and Richard Walters are buried next to each other in Philosophe British Cemetery. They are amongst a number of North Midland Territorials who were killed in August 1917.
No record in the 1/6th Battalion War Diary [WO/95/2694]
Philosophe 1st to 3rd Aug; Normal. Artillery and trench mortar artillery on our front. Our snipers accounted for a number of enemy moving in St Elie.
139 Infantry Brigade: Headquarters War Diary [WO95/2692]
Night 30/31.7.1917 TRENCHES: Battalion relieved by 1/5th Sherwood Foresters and went into support at PHILOSOPHE: 2 Companies remaining in the line in support to 5th Battalion.
Casualties during tour:- 8 other ranks wounded. 
1/6th Battalion War Diary [WO/95/2694]
30.7.1917 LABOURSE: 2/Lt J MACKAY joined Battalion from England.
James Mackay
Served in France with the 1/6th Battalion from 30th July 1917 to 15th February 1918. Transferred to the Labour Corps.
1/6th Battalion War Diary [WO/95/2694]
29.7.1917 LABOURSE: 2/Lt LV BURROWS from I Corps Schools.
Leonard Victor Burrows
1/6th Battalion War Diary [WO/95/2694]
28.7.1917 I CORPS SCHOOLS: 2/Lt VTG HORE proceeded on short leave.
Victor Thomas George Hore
1/6th Battalion War Diary [WO/95/2694]
27th-30th July: Enemy generally waiting (?) – slight hostile shelling – our casualties nearly all caused by trench mortars.
Considerable movement seen in St Elie and the carrying of gas cylinders suspected – enemy front line heavily bombarded by heavies particularly West of the Quarries to clear up the situation.
Wire cutting by heavies and 2″ mortars on several points.
The weather which had been fine and dry throughout the month, broke about 28th and trenches began to be flooded.
139 Infantry Brigade: Headquarters War Diary [WO95/2692]
Derbyshire Territorials in the Great War 