Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1918-01-23
ROBERT B. EvATT
LOSES SOLDIER SON
At FRENCH FRONT
REV. EVATT, NOW OF NEW KEN
SINGTON, GETS SYMPATHETIC
LETTER FROM CHAPLAIN

Mrs. John Carter, living in the
Belding addition, recently received a
letter and also a paper from former
rector of Holy Trinity Mission, Rob-
ert b. Evatt, telling of the death of
his son, Humphrey l.. Evatt, at the
base hospital in France. Young
Evatt was sergeant and was unusu-
ally well liked. His father was well
known in Belding and loved by his
church people as well as the commun-
ity at large. He is now at New Ken
sington, Pennsylvania. The clipping
given below was taken form the Pitts
burgh Sun of January 5, which paper
also printed a picture of the youth.
As the letter written to Rev. Evatt
shows the method of soldier burial it
will be of particular interest to
friends here. Here it is:
Letters of coincidence upon the
death of their youngest son, Sergeant
III. l.. Evatt Of Base Hospital Unit No.
21, in France last November, have
just been received by Rev. Robert B.
Evatt, rector of st. Andrews Protest
ant Episcopal Church, New Kensing-
ton, and Mrs. Evatt.
The letter to Mrs. Evatt is from
Major Fred Murphy, officer command
ing No. IL General hospital. and that
to Mr.. Evatt from Rev. George f.
Taylor, the chaplain. The letters IL
lustrate the personal interest which is
taken in every young American in the
service abroad.
Sergeant Evatt was victim of
pneumonia. He joined the hospital
unit in st. Louis shortly after the war
broke out, and left with it for France,
May 16, 1917. Data accompanying
the letters, show that he was buried
in uniform in st. Sever cemetery,
Rouen, France, November %, 1917.
Two other sons of Mr.. and Mrs. Evatt
are in the service in France.
Major Murphy, in his letter to Mrs
Evatt, writes
Nothing that can write will help
very much to lessen your grievous
sorrow. Yet | feel that / must tell
you how fine your sons work had
been with us and how fond we had
become of him. He was promoted,
as you know, to be a sergeant. This
he won by his ability, his energy and
his consideration for others. From
the first we recognized him as a man
of superior training with an ability to
command men. On the other side
his unfailing good cheer and his
thoughtfulness won the friendship of
all. His death-the first we have had
in Base Hospital No. 21-was a great
shock. Your other son who was here
at the last, and for the burial, will,
am sure, have written you in detail
about these days. To me, the respect
paid and the evident sorrow which
was felt, were at great tribute. Please
accept our deepest sympathy"
The chaplain, writing to the father,
says;
81 am the chaplain at the Base Hos
pital 21, u. S. A., Rouen, France, and
used to know you when you came to
the cathedral at st. Louis for the COM
munion. Perhaps you will recall me.
| hope so, for was with your son the
last week Of his earthly life. He was
the first boy l met when i began my
chaplaincy here. / administered COM
munion to him the week. before he
died, and saw him twice daily, having
prayers with him often. The day of
his death | was with him. He was
the first American of our unit to give
life up for his country, which he drl
just as truly as those who have been
and are to be on the firing line. He
did it all, too, without the excitement
of heriocs, but just in the day by day
task which his life of ministering to
the wounded in this wonderful hospi-
tai brought him.
He was very much beloved by all
here. i wish you could have seen the
flowers the men and nurses sent. The
fine coffin, draped with the stars and
stripes. instead Of the British army
regulation board box, and the attend
ance of the whole hospital corps, from
major to privates and nurses testified
to ur sorrow. / had the service, as
sisted by the British chaplain. He
was laid in a special lot assigned to
Americans. | had a special prayer,
dedicating the ground. and blessed
the grave. The church's services was
said with military honors. Then his
brother Masons held their services.
All the enlisted men were fine to him.
They all feel so broken up about los
ing him.
"You should feel proud. l know
you will. In the care of and work
for the sick and wounded. he gave
That thought will be of help.
! know. / have met your other boy
from whom doubtless you have heard.
Write me If / can send any further
particulars. I shall be only too glad
to write again. l am happy to be
able to write you of the love and re-
spect Humphrey had won for himself,