EVERARD
HENRY SHEPHERD
Private
16699
Everard
Henry Shepherd was born on 7 May 1894 in Newton Ferrers, the sixth
child of
Samuel (a labourer) and Eliza Shepherd.
They lived at 9, Fore Street, now Riverside Road East, not far from Samuel’s
brother John
and his family. He was baptised at Holy Cross Church on 24 June 1894, and attended school from 24
May 1897 to 31 May 1907 (Roll No. 363).
He enlisted at Plymouth into the 2nd
Battalion, The Devonshire Regiment. The
battalion formed part of 23rd Brigade in 8th Division, a
division of regular army units which had been rushed to the Western Front early
in the war and had remained there ever since.
On 20 April 1918, 2 Devon’s were employed
strengthening defensive positions in the town of Villers-Bretonneux. Two days later they occupied trenches, as a
counter-attack battalion, in an area to the west of the town. On 24 April, a tremendous German bombardment
opened up, first with gas which was followed by shrapnel and high
explosives. After two hours, the fire
was switched from the front trenches to the reserve and support positions. At 7.30am, 12 German tanks were seen
advancing on the battalion position, with three threatening the battalion
HQ. Although 2 Devon’s had dealt effectively with
the enemy infantry, tackling tanks was another matter. Chaos ensued in the battalion line, until
British tanks appeared and saved the day.
This was the first tank versus tank battle in history.
During fierce fighting on 24 and 25 April the
battalion lost 4 officers and 142 men killed.
One of those who fell in this action was Private Everard Shepherd. He is remembered with honour in Adelaide Cemetery, Villers-Bretonneux (Plot II.P.18).
