Digitized Service Record
Source: Photo of No. 1 Platoon, A Company, 70th Battalion posted by David Archer.
Find-A-Grave (Not Found)
Family Search: When Private Evan Donald Williams Bassett was born on 19 February 1894, in Llanelli, Carmarthenshire, Wales, United Kingdom, his father, William Bassett, was 43 and his mother, Margaret Williams, was 40. He immigrated to Quebec, Hardin, Iowa, United States in 1929 and lived in Llanelly, Carmarthenshire, Wales, United Kingdom for about 10 years. He registered for military service in 1915. In 1923, at the age of 29, his occupation is listed as accountant in United States.
With the Canadians.
GRAPHIC LETTER FROM A LLANELLYLITE.
The Canadian Army which is doing such splendid work in France these days includes in its ranks a well-known Llanellyite in the person of Donald Bassett, son of Mrs. Bassett, Union terrace, and the late Mr. Wm. Bassett. “Donald” has written his mother a most graphic letter from which the “Star” is permitted to take the following extracts:—
“No doubt you have read of the great work of the Canadians. I have been in the thick of it myself with my battalion, and am thankful to say that I came through safe and sound. It was a great push. Our boys were all over the Germans—they stood no chance at all with us and you will no doubt have seen that the Canadians made a record for the furthest advance in one day. In fact, we beat the Germans’ record of last spring when they were advancing. Our corps took over 9,000 prisoners and killed a terrible lot of Germans. There were more of them killed in this battle than in any previous one. I have never been so many dead Huns lying about the place. The Tanks went over with us and mowed the Germans down like corn—it was really sickening. We advanced altogether about 13 miles and captured scores of villages and all kinds of guns and booty. We moved up the night before the attack and went over in the morning just as day was breaking. Our brigade (14th) [4th Brigade] was the first to attack on our divisional front, and our objective was 3 1/2 miles. Within 3 hours of the attack we gained our objective, captured all the enemy’s light guns and several heavy guns. After having done this we had a nice drink of hot coffee which a German cook had made for some German officers. We advanced so fast that we captured several Germans with their shoes and socks off—it was great fun. We found a big store in a deep quarry, full of German wine and cigars. Needless to say, it was very much appreciated by us because we were so dry! Within two hours of the battle, the German guns were silent and you could walk around the fields without being shot at—I wish every battle was like that.
Llanelli_Star_1918_08_31_1
History of the 18th Battalion CEF, "The Fighting Eighteenth" 