John was born on 15 December 1897, the first child of John and Edith Annie (née Wood) Evans of Wellington, Shropshire. Sisters Dora (1899) and Violet (1900) with brothers Wynne (1904), David (1906), Frank (1908) and Lewis (1911) completed the family unit. The family fell on hard times in the early 1900’s and John was sent to the infamous HMS CLIO, the “Sail Training Ship” for boys 12 to 16 years old that was moored in the Menai Straits, prior to him joining the Royal Navy. The rest of the family had many recorded visits and stays in the local “Work House”.

John entered the Royal Navy when he walked through the gates of HMS GANGES in Shotley, Suffolk, on 1 October 1913 and signed on as a Boy Second Class. On 5 June 1914 he was advanced to Boy First Class with a draft to HMS GRAFTON on the 23 June until 1 August, when he joined HMS PEMBROKE 1 (ex HMS TRENT) the Royal Naval Barracks at Chatham, Kent. On 17  September 1914 he had a 2 week loan to HMS EDINBURGH CASTLE before joining HMS HIGHFLYER on the 30 September 1914.  On 3 July 1915 he was advanced to Ordinary Seaman with further advancement to Able Seaman on 3 February 1916 and return to PEMBROKE 1 on 15 April 1917. On 31 July he joined HMS HAVELOCK where on board he must have volunteered for the submarine service resulting in a draft to HMS DOLPHIN for HMS D3  on 30 November 1917.

D3 was sank by a French air-ship on 12 March 1918 while on a anti-submarine patrol in the English Channel just off the port of Dieppe. D3 fired the correct recognition rockets as a signal of identity but they were not recognised by the French airship. D3 was targetted by 6 x 52Kg depth bombs and sank very quickly. There were no survivors.

Able Seaman John Conde Evans  Svc No. J27873 “Crossed The Bar” with the other 28 members of the D3 crew. He is commemorated on the Chatham Naval Memorial on Panel 28.