This street is named in memory of Private Herbert Morris Evans
Herbert Morris Evans was born on 4 November 1920 in Brantford ON. His family moved to London where Herbert completed his education in 1938 after which he joined the workforce. He was working at the Kelvinator Refrigerator Manufacturing Company, when he enlisted on 1 February 1942. Initially assigned to the Royal Canadian Army Service Corps, he completed his basic training in Kitchener before being transferred to the Royal Canadian Regiment and undergoing his infantry training at Camp Borden in May 1942. He sailed for the UK in June, arriving in England on 25 June 1942.
For the next 12 months, he trained with the RCR in England before taking part in the landings at Pachino, Sicily on 10 July 1943. After the 38 day Sicilian campaign, the Regiment took part in the Allied invasion of mainland Italy in September and the subsequent advance along the Adriatic coast. By December, the Canadians were in the Moro River area. On 8-9 December, the RCR took part in the Battle for San Leonardo, during which Private Evans was wounded. On 18 December, the RCR, as part of the 1st Brigade, launched an attack to capture a vital crossroad, nicknamed “Cider”, in the battle of Ortona. Meeting fierce resistance, Pte Evans was wounded during the initial attack with the RCR suffering numerous casualties. The attack continued the following day and it is during this renewed effort that Private Herbert Morris Evans was killed on 19 December 1943. Pte Evans is buried at the Moro River Canadian War Cemetery.
