Alfred Frank Evans

Mr Alfred Frank Evans was born in Southampton, Hampshire on 3 February 1887.

He was the son of Charles Evans (b. 1851), a stevedore, and Elizabeth Russell (b. 1856), natives of Southampton and Ryde, respectively who were married in 1881.  

One of nine children, Evans’ siblings were: Lily (b. 1876), Kate (1882-1882), John Charles (1883-1963), Lucy Ada (1885-1974, later Mrs Fred Gatehouse), Ernest Russell (1889-1910), Constance Mabel (1891-1969, later Mrs John Phillips), Celia Florence (1894-1895) and Esther Louisa (1897-1897).

Alfred first appears on the 1891 census residing with his family at Bridge Road in Itchen. The 1901 census shows the family at Dock Terrace and Frank had by then left education and was working as a smith’s labourer. 

Evans enrolled in the Royal Naval Reserve (RNR) on 14 July 1906, and was described in his RNR papers as being 5' 7 ½" with a fair complexion, blue eyes and a 36" chest. He also had tattoos of a woman and the faith, hope and charity symbol on his right arm. Among the items he lost on the Titanic was his RNR uniform.

Alfred was married in early 1912 to Charlotte “Lottie” Martin (b. 6 August 1888 in Southampton).

Prior to joining the Titanic, Evans served as an able-bodied seaman on the Oceanic from 23 October 1911 to 29 March 1912.

When he signed-on to the Titanic on 6 April 1912, he gave his address as 20 Deal Street, St. Marys, Southampton. As a lookout he could expect monthly wages of £5.

On the night of the sinking Evans and fellow lookout George Hogg were on duty from 6 to 8 p.m. Jewell and Symons then took over for the 8 to 10 watch.

Evans was in bed when the Titanic collided with an iceberg; he and Hogg were woken by the impact and went forward to the forecastle to investigate. They relieved Fleet and Lee in the crow's nest at eight bells (midnight) about twenty minutes after the incident. They remained there for about twenty minutes before heading to the boat deck.

Evans was rescued (the exact lifeboat is uncertain, although lifeboat 15 has been suggested).

Following the disaster Evans and his wife Lottie welcomed a daughter, Phyllis Lilian who was born on 11 February 1913, their only child.

From September 1913 to 29 April 1914 Evans worked in the Southampton dockyards, after which he made several voyages in the Olympic.

With the outbreak of war, Evans was barracked on HMS Victory, and after his war service was demobilised on the 25 February 1919. He was later awarded the 1914 Star and Clasp, the British War Medal and the Victory Medal.

From 1 April 1920 to 1 April 1921 Evans' records indicate that he worked in Harland & Wolff's Southampton shipyards. When he applied to rejoin the RNR in April 1921 his application was rejected on the basis that he had an 'organic heart disease'. As he was not invalided from active service, it was ruled that he was ineligible for the award of disability payments.

In later years Evans lived at Oaktree Road, Bitterne Park, Southampton and worked for the Southampton shipyard Camper Nicholson Ltd but retired following a fall. He chose not to discuss the Titanic as it upset him too much.

Alfred Evans died in Southampton on 1 February 1964 aged 76. He was cremated and his ashes were scattered in the garden of rest in South Stoneham Cemetery, Southampton (section 5). His widow Lottie passed away in 1967.