William was known in the family as 'Bill'. He was the third of five children (born April 6 1923) originally from a tiny place in mid-Wales called Llanfan where his father was the local vicar. The family moved to Ellel when Bill's father became vicar of Ellel St John’s.

His older brother fought in the RAF during the war and survived and became a teacher locally after the war. He died in 2002. Bill had another brother and two sisters. His last surviving sister, Barbara, died in 2017

Williams obituary in the Lancaster Guardian, date 9 June 1944, page 5, states:

'Evans. William David . . . RAC, died of wounds, Italy, 15 May 1944, aged 21. Second son of the Rev T W Evans, Vicar of Ellel & Mrs Evans, his eldest brother and sister are serving. Bill joined up in 1941 and trained as a tank driver being based at Warminster, Catterick and the Brecon Beacons. He served in North Africa, landing at Algiers in February 1943, until the final capture of Tunis. Bill landed in Italy on 20 April 1944. Bill died on the 15th May and the family were told one Month later. It was reported he had been in an armoured car that hit a road mine and was thrown out of the vehicle.'

William was buried nearby at first and later reburied in August 1945 in Cassino cemetery.