On this day in November 1917, Private Phillip Philp died.

Private 34782

PHILLIP PHILP

16th Battalion Royal Warwickshire Regiment

Died age 24

5th November 1917

Philip Philp was born in September 1893 at Tutwell, one of the eight sons and four daughters of John Henry and Emma Jane Philp. John Henry, originally a copper miner, was a woodman on the Duke of Bedford’s estate. We are lucky to have a photograph, albeit slightly out of focus, of Philip which was taken on July 2nd 1910 when he was a member of the Luckett Cricket Team. With regards to Philip’s occupation, the 1911 census tells us that he was working as a farm labourer.

The Luckett Crickett Club on July 2nd 1910. The club is still going strong to this day.

 

Phillip Philp.

We do not know exactly when he joined the army but we do know that he originally enrolled into the Duke of Cornwall’s Light Infantry at Bodmin, although he ended up in to Royal Warwickshire Regiment It is probable that both regiments were in France and it was there that the Royal Warwicks received reinforcements, significant numbers of those sent to the 16th Battalion were not from its ‘home’ of Birmingham. It is possible that Private Philp could have been one of them. In April 1917 the 16th Battalion was attached to a Canadian formation and was involved in the attack on Vimy Ridge. Over the summer of 1917 it was in the Pas de Calais area between Arleux and Oppy and contributed to the capture of Oppy Wood, a strategically important German defensive position that overlooked British positions. This was followed by the Third Battle of Ypres during which the battalion took part in repeated attacks on Polderhoek Chateau in October. Although the attacks were initially successful, there was a high cost of life and the Château could not be held due to a combination of stiff resistance from an enemy firmly ensconced in concrete pill-boxes, heavy German artillery fire, and the fact that the pervasive mud continuously rendered the attackers’ weapons inoperative.

Polderhoek Chateau before WW1.

The chateau in 1915.

The chateau in 1917.

The Battalion was still in the Ypres Salient when Private Philp fell on 5th November. The Battalion War Diary records "1.40 pm. A small party of the enemy attempted a raid on Number 3 post in the left company’s sector but were driven off by bombs and Lewis gun fire". It is likely that involvement in this action led to Private Philp’s death. His body was never recovered and he is one of the 35000 men commemorated on the Tyne Cot Memorial in Belgian Flanders, just outside of Ypres.

Tyne Cot Memorial.

Phillip Philp's 'Death Penny' given to his family to commemorate his service.

Private Philp’s effects were divided between his brother and sisters, with his sister Winnie getting the greatest share.