237640 Rflmn. William Phillips British Army 1st Btn. A Company King's Royal Rifle Corps from:Chelsea, London (d.17th Feb 1917) William Phillips was my Great Uncle. He was 26 when he died. A red cross representative recorded the following details of his fate.
"He came from Chelsea & was a mucking in chum of mine.
He was lying near me when he was killed. We were in shell
holes. They counter attacked and we fell back into some short
pieces of trenches. Two bodies were dragged back as we fell
back. Then I saw S/Bs taking the papers off them and I asked who they were, it was Phillips and I think Myers, or a name
like that. I knew him very well but they were so covered with
mud that I could not recognize him but I saw his pay book and
had no doubt about him. I helped to pull him through, out of
the mud. And I saw him buried in a shell hole at Miraumont
It was practically in the line and I do not suppose that I
could find the place again myself. The other man was buried
with him. He used always to be talking to me about his Mother
and Sisters. He was a very nice quiet fellow who would
share everything with you. I have shared many of his parcels
a very decent fellow. There were not many of us Londoners in
the Company so we naturally drifted together. He lived at Norman
Road, Kings, Road, Chelsea."
Informant Rfn. James 25306
On Ambulance Train.
Calais 9 xxx (page torn)
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