Henry Cope Evans

Graham Broad · 12 February 2015, 07:46 PM

Was writing today about this genuine character. A 'Canadian', former fruit farmer, cattle rancher, polo enthusiast, and Boer War veteran, Henry Cope Evans –*a giant for the day at six foot two – affected a transfer to the RFC in September 1915. We have two different DOB for him. His Aero Club card says 1879, his CEF attestation paper says 1880. (It was in fact 1879, according to birth registration records.) In either case, he was the oldest man in the RFC and recipient of the DSO. He was KIA after two months' service with 24 Squadron over the Somme.

I wonder why they took him - in September 1915, he would have been thirty-six. Anyway, they didn't make a bad choice. Like nearly all of 24's pilots over the Somme, he seems to have been slightly eccentric and highly aggressive, doing his best with the DH-2. Five victories really meant something in those days with that plane.

Dave_Kent · 16 February 2015, 02:56 PM

Hi Graham:

Just a word in defence of the Airco D.H. 2. Evans' victories occurred in late July / early August 1916. Though the D.H. 2 was about to be badly outclassed by the Albatros D. II, it was still a good fighting machine when Evans flew it. It was considered a bit tricky to fly at that time, not surprizing as the pilots had been training on Farmans and similar machines.

What are you writing?

Dave

Graham Broad · 21 February 2015, 12:30 PM

Thanks, Dave. Am writing a biography (sort of, feel free to P.M. me if you want more detail) for the University of Toronto Press of Alfred Edwin "Eddie" McKay, who served with No. 24 in June 16 to March 17 and then later with No. 23. He was a student at my university in 1914-1915. Hence I'm scouring everything I can find on No. 24 for that period.

AV8R · 21 February 2015, 10:35 PM

For those interested in Henry Cope Evans, note that his page in the Canadian Virtual War Memorial includes a digital collection of items relating to his background:

http://www.veterans.gc.ca/eng/rememb...20Cope%20Evans

AV8R · 21 February 2015, 11:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Graham Broad

I wonder why they took him - in September 1915, he would have been thirty-six.

Evans wasn't the only one. Stanley Winther CAWS, for example, the first person with strong Canadian connections to be killed in action in aerial combat, was aged 35 or 36 when he transferred to the RFC.

Evans and Caws were certainly exceptions (age-wise), but these fellows must have really impressed as having the "right stuff."