Private Gwilym Gray Evans, son of Griffith and Elizabeth Catherine Evans, of Dolgelley, Merionethshire, served with 1st Parachute Battalion. He took part in the Battle of Arnhem, during Op Market Garden.

Gwilym Gray Evans, had enlisted on the 19th April 1941 and was serving in the Royal Welch Fusiliers when he volunteered for Airborne Forces.

He completed Parachute Course 30, at RAF Ringway, 5th – 13th October 1942. This was a re-enforcement course, where the men were held at Brigade level, until the units needed replacements and Private G.G. Evans was posted to the 1st Parachute Battalion in North Africa.

Gwilym took part in operations in North Africa, Sicily and Italy, November 1942 to December 1943, and later served in the Assault Platoon at Arnhem. He successfully returned across the River on the night of the 25th/26th September 1944.

He died in an accident on the Military Ranges at Exmoor on the 16th April 1945.

According to the Death Certificate the cause of death was “Cerebral Haemorrhage following injuries to the skull through his firing a two inch mortar bomb into a tree close to his position during a military exercise. No Post Mortem. Misadventure”

He is buried in Dolgelley Nonconformist Cemetery (Merioneth, Wales), Sec F, Grave 13.

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NOTE: For many years he was included on the ROLL OF HONOUR, 1st Airborne Division at Arnhem, but in the 5th Edition 2011, he was removed.