Tom Evans was the son of Richard and Janet Evans of Tylorstown, in the Rhondda valley. He was 26 when he was killed in action serving with the Royal Welch Fusiliers during a battle against the Turkish Army near Beersheba, about 74 km southwest of Jerusalem on 31 October 1917. His death came as an additional loss to his family in Wales following the death of his brother-in-law, Moses Jenkins, who was killed in action in France on 7 June 1917 while serving with the Royal Field Artillery.