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World War 2 Two II WW2 WWII 1939 1945

Stf.Sgt. George Ernest Phillips .     United States Army 347th Btn., Coy G, 3rd Pltn.   from Amenia, New York

I graduated from Amenia (NY) School in 1943. The army had a program where if you enlisted in the Army Reserve’s specialized technical program, they would send you to college. I was sent to Auburn (NY) College, learning a lot of subjects we might need in basic engineering. Then in November I was sent to Fort Dix, NJ for introduction to the regular Army. The first thing I learned was not to trust anybody — I was robbed of $20 the first night.

We worked 14 to 15 hours a day on KP (kitchen police). We were issued everything — clothes, shots, medical exams. We weren’t liked by the non coms because we smart kids had been sent to college.

After 2 or 3 weeks we were sent by rail to Fort Benning, GA. Our barracks were tarpaper huts, heated by a little sheet metal coal stove using soft coal. My bed was close to the stove. The bath and showers were down the street.

Fort Benning is a huge place. I went to the Officer’s Candidate School, where they turned out 90 day wonders. There was tank school, paratroopers, infantry, and whatever else. Some went on passes to Phoenix, AL which was a sin city. I didn’t go. There were drunks, fights, robberies and venereal disease.

After 17 weeks of basic infantry we were sent by rail to Columbia, SC. We were the Fort Jackson 87th Division, 347th Battalion Company G, 3rd Platoon. While there the Army dissolved the ARSTP — they decided they didn’t need us! — and we were stuck in the Infantry. They needed a lot more infantry than engineers. So much for the brass knowing what they were doing. We filled in for the men being sent overseas.

We were up at 5 AM, reveille at 6, chow at 7, training at 8. I got up earlier to avoid the rush to the bathroom. We’d have physical training, lectures, close order drills, and more lectures. I didn’t like the mess sergeant as he kicked me in the behind for something I did on KP. They wanted a few to go to cook’s and baker’s school. I didn’t go but I wish I had. Later the company command post and kitchen crew were a mile in the rear, sleeping in tents or captured buildings. As soldiers we slept in 2-man fix holes, one man awake and one sleeping in 2 hour shifts and the nights lasted forever. If you were caught sleeping you could get bayonetted. I was cold but I never got sick.

At Fort Jackson we had lots of marching exercises, 25 miles every Friday night. Colonel Bodner would pass us in a jeep. He’d watch us go by, then drive up 2 or 3 miles to watch us again. He must have gotten tired of that.

I was a 3rd platoon messenger and had a walkie talkie radio. This was useless as every radio in the division was on the same frequency. My entrenching tool was wire cutters — how do you dig with them? Later I picked up a shovel and after that a pick, too. And I never climbed a fence. In Auburn NY I bought a Boy Scout knife and took that with me, which was a good idea. After the war my brother Chet borrowed it and lost it. I was pissed after carrying it through the war. I had used it all the time.

At Fort Jackson, inspection was every Saturday morning. If we failed, there were no weekend passes to Columbia to spend a little money on beers or food. If we did go we had to be back to camp before 5 AM. If we were late we were considered AWOL. Jackson was a huge camp. The 27th Division was there, too. In training we never covered what to do with the wounded, just told to call the medical aides. During the war, though, we should have given them first aid before the aides got there. Some just bled to death. I guess they thought it would be bad for our morale by teaching it. We were given a lecture on gas masks. The lieutenant thought he had a smoke grenade but instead it was white phosphorous. One soldier was burned badly on his back by the grenade. They put sand and water on his back trying to put it out. I don’t know how he recovered. The lieutenant was shipped out the next day, probably overseas.

We had a private who wanted to get out of the Army. He acted crazy, crowing and squawking like a chicken. I didn’t see him anymore, so I guess he did get out.

I got promoted to Private First Class, which gave me $4 more a month. I had an $18.75 bond sent home every month. $10,000 insurance was $6.50, laundry $2-3, which left me with $29.00 for the month. Food was plentiful and good. We ate 3200 calories a day and worked it off. I never did like the raisin pie, okra or grits.

We were shipped to Fort Dix in November, then boarded the Queen Elizabeth bound for Scotland. There were 15,000 men on board, it was so crowded that only half could go on deck. We had 2 meals a day and it was lousy food. We had fish for breakfast. They charged the US for the rations. The ship had no escort as the subs couldn’t catch up. We outran them, zig zagging every 15 minutes. The only candy you could buy was Mallow Cups — some selection!

We landed 6 days later somewhere in Scotland. Then we boarded the night train for Altrincham, near Manchester. Before the train we were given excellent tea by Red Cross ladies. I never saw the American Red Cross while I was in Europe, and I still don’t donate to them. England in the fall has rain, rain and fog. Training went on as usual. We were in houses with no central heating. The fireplaces burned coke, which is coal with the gas extracted. When I was on coal detail our house got more than any others.

The guys would go to the pubs. The locals would tease, “Drink up Yanks before your beer gets cold.” I did get a 3-day pass to London. I saw St. Paul’s Cathedral standing with rubble all around it. It had gotten hit with three dud bombs. If one exploded it would have brought it down. Don’t tell me there is no God! There were blackouts, too.

I bought fish and chips served in a newspaper cone. I bought a pie in a bakery. I thought it would be fruit but it was mutton stew!

We left England on an LST (landing ship tank). We went over the side on landing nets to smaller vessels which took us to Le Havre, France. When we landed, it was flattened and there were no Germans in it. Later they moved back in the rubble and it took 6 months to clear them out of the city. We were then trucked to near Reims, France. We had pup tents in the rain and the mud, which soaked our shoes and gave people trench foot. There were only 4 pairs of arctics for the whole platoon of 40 men. The sergeants got them, not the privates or PFCs. When the first prisoners were captured, I was told, “Phillips, take them to battalion!” There I scrounged around the aid station and found 2 left overshoes, one so large I could put my right foot in it. That’s what saved my feet.

The rear eschelon got all needed items first. It should have been the front line. Wet feet get black and wrinkly and start to decay. We lost 30% of our men to trench foot. Nobody ever told us about massaging the feet to get the blood circulating. We were issued 2 pair of British navy wool socks. They were great wool socks. I’d wear one pair, and put the wet ones under my shirt to dry out. At the end of January, lo and behold we got shoes with leather tops and rubber bottoms. The Russians were issued boots one size larger, to put hay or straw into them. They also mixed oil and gasoline for the weapons. When our weapons were frozen, they were urinated on to get them working. This raised hell with them, but if we were attacked it had to be done.

Our first battle was terrible. The German artillery was really heavy and we lost about 25 soldiers. The next morning at 9 we did a Picket’s charge on a machine gun. Nobody gave the order to charge and fire. The sergeant, lieutenant and captain gave no communication. If I did give the order I might have gotten a medal, but who would listen to a private or PFC. The place was Obergailbach on the French and German border.

We had no canvas tops on the trucks so we could fire at the Luftwaffe planes. We could see all of the artillery flashes, and knew somebody was catching hell. It was like a continuous fireworks, a continuous grand finale.

Then we attacked in Belguim. I was almost killed in Prerompe (sp?). The 3rd platoon was about 10 or 12 men and we waded the brook and got in the town. We threw a grenade in a house and heard screaming and crying and 2 civilians came out. Palmer Montgomery and I didn’t see the 1st platoon, so we crossed an intersection to look for them. We didn’t see them, so headed back, Palmer first. When I was crossing the tank opened up with a 88 artillery shell, and the turbulence of the shell knocked me down about 10 feet back. Then they opened up with a machine gun at me. I got bullets in my K rations. “You goddamn bastards,” I said. I got across but lost my rifle. I picked up a German rifle in the ditch. When I got back to where the guys were, Sgt. Schultz lay dead in the road — hit by a mortar shell, instantly killing him and bending his Browning automatic rifle all out of shape. It was a tough day. We were bunched up in a house with no guard outside. We were green troops. And green troops with no leader. I still don’t know what happened to the 1st platoon — were they killed or captured?

The next days we attached Bonnelau and Tenneville. We went to St. Vith but there were no Krauts there. They were retreating on foot, out of gasoline. The generals couldn’t surrender their troops because Hitler would have killed their families in Germany. The Germans in retreat would set up road blocks with manned troops. We would have to rout them out. Most towns were just rubble with destruction everywhere. Bad memory blurs as time passes. When the skies cleared the air corps blasted the Germans. There were thousands of planes attacking the retreating — the sky was full. They also dropped supplies to us. That was a nice New Year’s present.

As we advanced every day was always the same — keep moving ahead. We were dirty and unshaven after 6 weeks. My shirt collar was so dirty I took it off and scraped the collar with my knife. At the shower we were given clean clothes.

Eisenhower stopped Patton in France by giving the gas to Montgomery for his failed Market Garden fiasco. Patton had the right idea to keep attacking and not let the Krauts set up defensive positions. We did get a break in the action, and rest. You could only go so far without proper rest in order to be effective. You got burned out.

One town I remember was the town of Auw, Germany. Sgt. Macomber and I were in a house and heard a shell coming in. I rushed out, hitting the dirt. Macomber followed, but he was killed. I got nicked — a band aid job. The medic asked me if I wanted a Purple Heart. I turned it down as I didn’t want to worry my folks back home. Dumb me again!

I knew that my brother Royal was wounded in the Hurtgen forest. With trees planted in rows close together, troops got lost in the forest. That campaign should have been bypassed.

I don’t remember how we crossed the Moselle River. Later at the Rhine we were to follow the 1st Battalion in boats. They were turned back by the intense fire. So, lucky us, we later crossed on a pontoon bridge at Boppard, Germany.

Patton stopped in the middle there to take his famous picture. He would drive to the front in his jeep with the stars of a general on it — 3 stars. Our jeep had a sign on it: “looters do not delay!” Speaking of looting the officers were the worst. They could mail things back home. We couldn’t — you’d have to carry it, which was impossible.

In houses we slept on the floor as beds might have lice or bed bugs. But we slept no problem, as we needed to sleep whenever we could get it. It was in Belguim that Captain Mahanes asked me if I wanted to be a sergeant. I answered, “No Sir, thank you!” “You will be,” was his answer. 9 months later I was Staff Sergeant. PFCs were paid $54 per month, Sergeants $78, and Staff Sergeants $94 monthly. I was the platoon sergeant at 20 years old! This is what casualties do.

Later at Fort Monmouth, NJ I was promoted to Tech Sergeant. They couldn’t do it in Europe as the company had too many sergeants on the roster who were either wounded or killed in action.

There was one town where we liberated Polish prisoners. They wanted guns to kill their guards, who were probably German.

After the Rhine it w as mostly riding on tanks that were advancing. I was on the lead tank into Plauen, Germany near Czechoslovakia. The city was rubble and all the other cities were the same. There were lots of bed sheets hanging out the windows.

End of the war. May 6th was the surrender. All of their troops were marching west to surrender. They were on both sides of the road and we rode down the middle. The autobahn was like our Taconic Parkway.

I never saw the American Red Cross. At the Lucky Strike Embarkation Camp, we got a warm Coke. I’m sure the officers had theirs with booze. If the German troops were caught by the Russians, they were sent to Siberia and worked and starved to death. I think of captured Germans, only 25,000 were returned. Between Hitler and Stalin, 50 million people died. That was horrible.

Earlier in the spring I was sent to the battalion. I assumed I was being sent to the Officer Candidate School. A major asked me how we could have had less casualties. I told him about the 4 pairs of overshoes for us when the shoe packs arrived. I guess he didn’t like to hear about my criticizing the command as I didn’t get to go. But as an Officer you were obligated 5 more years in the reserve. Good thing I didn’t go as I would have been fighting in the Korean War, too. That episode was run by McArthur in his castle in Japan. His protege General Almond was 5 miles in the rear in a trailer with a bath and a heated latrine.

While I was interviewed for OCS, our division liberated Buchenwald extermination camp, where 5 to 7 million Jews were killed. the next day I was asked if I wanted to see it, but I refused — I had seen enough of death.

The Russians would rape German woman, and many of them committed suicide. It was a relief to have no more fighting and killing. Our division was slated to invade Japan in November. We had heavily bombed Japan, and there were no enemy planes. They were saving 300 planes to sink the troop transports, which would have been a blood bath on both sides. The citizens would be armed with bamboo spears. The atom bombs stopped the war. If anybody said we shouldn’t have used the terrible bombs I’d sure give them my unbiased opinion. They should have been there first.

Drugs. Before I was going into the Army, Pop told me drugs weren’t healthy. That’s all a knew, and I avoided them all my life. I tried cigarettes, maybe a half pack in England, but I didn’t like them. Good choice. During the war men would have to get under their rain coats to light up at night so they didn’t get shot at. After the war codeine cough syrup was available to get high. That led to more drug addiction. As a platoon sergeant I could carry morphine syringes to give to the wounded. Never gave it to anyone not wounded, or to myself.

Back in the US. We disbanded at Fort Benning. After a 30-day leave I was sent to Fort Mammoth, working in a finance office typing checks for discharged men. The checks had to be perfectly typed. I went home for the weekends, traveling by train.

A few years ago we went to Fort Benning to see the new infantry museum. It cost $10 million minus $1 to build. When I told them I’d been in the war I got first class treatment. In order to view the movie they had to have 8 people signed up to see it. The showed it to just us! Celebrity status.

George E. Phillips served in the US Army during World War II and fought at the Battle of the Bulge.




Gnr. George Phillips .     British Army 457 Light Battery Royal Artillery   from Sicup

I worked in the Coop on the provision counter which meant I dealt with eggs, bacon, cheese, butter etc. My girlfriend worked in Milliners hat shop a few doors down. I was called up in June 1942, and was sent for basic training in Scotland — teaching me my right foot from my left foot. I was there for about six weeks. I went to an artillery training regiment to learn the art of Gunnery. Having failed a course on surveying I was sent potato picking in Lincolnshire because of the lack of farmworkers. Living on a farm in a barn was far better than army life — marching, drills, guard duty, the food!

I was transferred to Woolwich for several weeks prior to Embarkation. This was primarily to prepare me for wherever we were to be stationed abroad. This was handy for me as it meant that I could make occasional trips home to Sidcup. I was then given Embarkation leave which included Christmas. After Christmas I reported back. I was sent up to Liverpool on the train where we were put on a troop ship. We were given a code which was printed on our kitbag — sometimes this was changed the next day to confuse us and the enemy. They still didn’t tell us where we going. Eventually we boarded the boat at Liverpool and went out somewhere into the Atlantic. This was at times nerve racking because of the Atlantic war. The troop ships were converted lines — ours was the SS Orama.

We were probably at Sea for ten days to a fortnight — we didn’t go direct to Algiers. I was not part of a unit at this time. I was an individual soldier being sent to a transit camp where they decided who went where. You would just be sent off in a lorry to your new unit. I became part of the 457 Light Battery RA. I had been trained on twenty-five pounder guns, but when I arrived I found that we were using Howitzer guns — firing twenty pound shells. They also fired in a different way to the guns I had been used too — they were actually more effective because they had a higher trajectory. In the 1920’s they were used on the North West frontier of India when our army was somewhat more prominent. At this point they could be dismantled and carried by Mules. These guns had been modified and mechanised so that they could be pulled along by quads which were smaller army trucks. They were the same kind of size as a quad bike but were totally encased — very much like the four wheel drive’s we have today.

We pushed east across the North of Africa and eventually met the 8th Army coming the other way at Bizerta and Tunis. When Sicily was invaded we transferred there for a while before returning to North Africa. The powers that be recognised the problems of Italy with the hilly geography and decided to return the unit to it’s original role of mountain warfare. Because of this we had to revert to using Mules to pull the guns. This meant that we had to completely retrain — learning how to deal with Mules, Polish saddles, learn how to harness, learning the drill for mounting the gun on the Mule. This was sometimes funny as the Mule would kick someone — sometimes it was a bit of circus or cowboy rodeo! Eventually we got to a point where we were sent on to find and engage a front. But the front was continually moving North so we walked some way before we actually met the enemy at Perugia. This was sometimes in awful conditions. When we were travelling it was always really hot — but when we came into combat in the hills it was always raining and cold. The daily march was always part of the exercise — we had to attend to the mules, clean saddles, clean and assemble the gun, etc.. If there were was anytime left there was sometimes a meal waiting for us. It did mean that we were extremely tired all the time. We would also have to go on guard duty. Around this time, Italy capitulated and this meant that their troops could take a non-combatant role. Their troops (called Alpinis) wore hats which resembled the kind of hat worn by Robin Hood. They came to a peak at the front and had a plume on the side. They then took over the role of looking after the Mules. Once we would strike our position, they would take the mules off round the hill to a safe place until required when we moved on, usually during the middle of the night. Quite a few of them deserted because they were in their own country. They would just disappear overnight. During this time we had been joined by the 456 battery and formed a 479 battery making the seventh mountain regiment RA. Supplies were scarce and they had to be transferred up into the hills overnight in difficult conditions. We actually lived on Chestnuts at one point as the rivers were swollen so much that no supplies could get through.

I had become very ill, and went sick and was transferred to a casualty clearing station. I was then transferred further back to a monastry in Assisi for treatment. These days it’s called battle fatigue — but we didn’t know that then. I was regarded from A1 to B2 — this meant the end of my days of action. I was eventually transferred into an office based job in Naples where life was obviously more enjoyable. But that was the last I saw of any of my friends. I wasn’t allowed to go back to say goodbye. I finished up in the Army broadcasting unit. I came home for a month got married. On the last day of the war I was flown to Austria where a group of us became a re-patriation unit for our prisoners of war. I was de-mobbed in 1947 from Richmond Park and returned to my job behind the counter at the Coop.




L/Cpl. George William Phillips .     British Army Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers   from Sheffield

(d.4th April 1943)

George Phillips was the son of George William and Nellie Sophia Phillips of Sheffield. George served with R.E.M.E. He was evacuated with the B.E.F. from Dunkirk between 26th of May and 4th of June 1940. George is buried at Sfax War Cemetery, Tunisia.

George is on the right in the photograph, which was taken in 1940. He was the great uncle of Andrew and Cheryl Coltman.




Pte. George Percival Phillips .     British Army   from Chingford

George Phillips was my grandfather. I think he may have been a Prisoner of war in Burma, as I recall my grandmother mentioning it. George suffered several diseases including malaria and TB. He died of TB on 12th of May 1953.




GF Phillips .     British Army Royal Armoured Corps

GF Phillips served with the Royal Armoured Corps British Army. I have his unissued dogtags, made in preparation for deployment to the Far East and would love to get them home to his family. I am happy to cover all costs. If you are a family member or can put me in touch with them please get in touch.

Update: The Wartime Memories Project is no longer in contact with Dan , his website, facebook page and email have all ceased to function. But if you can add any details about the person listed, please use the add to record link below.




LS Graham Phillips .     Royal Navy   from Manchester




H Phillips .     British Army Royal Armoured Corps

H Phillips served with the Royal Armoured Corps British Army. I have his unissued dogtags, made in preparation for deployment to the Far East and would love to get them home to his family. I am happy to cover all costs. If you are a family member or can put me in touch with them please get in touch.

Update: The Wartime Memories Project is no longer in contact with Dan , his website, facebook page and email have all ceased to function. But if you can add any details about the person listed, please use the add to record link below.




Sgt Harold Paul Phillips .     Royal Air Force 103 Squadron   from Stockton on Tees

Harry Philips was a friend of my father, who I knew as a child. He served with 103 Squadron RAF as an Air Gunner on Lancaster bombers in 1944, based at RAF Elsham Wolds.




Herbert Howard Phillips .     Royal Navy HMS Implacable   from Tredegar, South wales

My dad, Herbert Phillips was born in September 1927. He served with the Royal Navy in the Falklands during WW2. He tells me he did his training on HMS Victory and TS Fudroyant. He has some photos at his house. I can't wait to show him your site. He was a stenographer, I believe. I know he was stationed in the Falklands and is always recalling the penguin eggs!




L/Sgt. Howard Phillips .     British Army 1st Battalion Royal West Kent Regiment   from Altarnun

(d.14th Dec 1944)

I came over L/Sgj Phillips' name on the Altarnun War Memorial. The only information that I have is that he died here in Cornwall and is buried in Altarnun (St Donna) Churchyard and that he was only 21 years old. I am compliling an ebook about all the war memorials in Cornwall.




L/Sgt. Howard Phillips .     British Army 1st Btn. Queen's Own Royal West Kent Regiment   from Altarnun, Cornwall

(d.14th Dec 1944)

Howard Phillips was born in 1923 to William and Elizabeth Phillips at Altarnun. He served with the 1st Battalion as a Lance Corporal. He was later promoted to Lance Serjeant. He died on 14th December 1944 of his wounds sustained whilst fighting in Italy after being in hospital in Liverpool and is buried at St. Nonnas Church, Altarnun.




Idris Sefton Phillips .     British Army 1st Btn. Welsh Guards   from Pembroke Dock, Pembrokeshire

(d.10th September 1944)

My uncle, Idris Sefton Phillips, was a guardsman with the 1st Btn. Welsh Guards. He died, aged 19, on 10th September 1944. He is buried in Leopoldsburg War Cemetery, Germany. My father last saw his brother when he was 14. We would love to hear from anyone who remembers Idris.




J Phillips .     British Army

J Phillips served with the British Army. I have his unissued dogtags, made in preparation for deployment to the Far East and would love to get them home to his family. I am happy to cover all costs. If you are a family member or can put me in touch with them please get in touch.

Update: The Wartime Memories Project is no longer in contact with Dan , his website, facebook page and email have all ceased to function. But if you can add any details about the person listed, please use the add to record link below.




Sgt. J. J. Phillips .     97 Squadron




Musician Jack A. Phillips .     Royal Navy HMS Nelson (d.12th Aug 1942)




JL Phillips .     British Army Royal Armoured Corps

JL Phillips served with the Royal Armoured Corps British Army. I have his unissued dogtags, made in preparation for deployment to the Far East and would love to get them home to his family. I am happy to cover all costs. If you are a family member or can put me in touch with them please get in touch.

Update: The Wartime Memories Project is no longer in contact with Dan , his website, facebook page and email have all ceased to function. But if you can add any details about the person listed, please use the add to record link below.




John Sherborn Priestley Phillips .     Royal Air Force 608 Sqd.

I`m trying to trace wartime movements of John Sherborn Priestley Phillips, who joined 608 Sqn. at Thornaby in 1939. Can anybody help?




Sgt. John Henry Phillips .     Royal Air Force 101 Sqn   from Crewe, Cheshire

(d.23rd Aug 1943)

John Phillips is my Uncle, he walked 20 miles from Crewe to Stoke with his friends to sign up when he was told his apprenticeship would exclude him from being called up. He trained as a pilot in Winnipeg, Canada but lost his wings after a brawl and ended up as an Upper Gunner on Lancaster ED328 SR-S based at Ludford Magna flying over 20 missions.

He was Killed in Action 23/24th August 1943 over Berlin.

His Crew were:

  • F/S R.C Naffin RAAF
  • Sgt D.M Ellis RAF
  • F/S N.J Bullen RAAF
  • F/S D.J Tressider RAAF
  • Sgt J.A Currey RAF
  • Sgt J.H Phillips RAF
  • Sgt E.J Phillips RAAF
They were all buried at the time with full military honours in the local cemetery and are now buried at the Berlin War Cemetery.

Update:

I was informed on the 14th June 2013 that the LAO, a historic crash investigation team based at the Finowfurt Air Museum nr Berlin had, after weeks of searching found the crash site of my uncle's Lancaster, they have also found an eye witness who was 15 at the time.

Lancaster ED328 SR-S took off from Ludford Magna on the night of the 23rd August for a 300 strong raid on Berlin, the plane was never heard from again and the crew were buried in a local cemetery in Beisenthal, Germany before being buried in the Berlin 1939-1945 War Cemetery. It appears from accounts that they were attacked by 2 or 3 German Nightfighters and the plane exploded mid air scattering them and the plane over a 1 kilometre area. This is amazing find as it is the 70th year anniversary of their death this year.




John Phillips .     Royal Air Force 230 Flying Boat Sqdn.

I served with RAF from 1942 to 1947. Following initial training embarked on troopship SS Argentina from Gourock during May 1943. After a short stay in transit camps in Durban and Bombay, final destinations were India, Burma, Singapore and then in 1946 back to Calshot with 230 Flying Boat Squadron.




John Phillips .     Royal Air Force 230 Sqdn.

I served with 230 Squadron, RAF and would be pleased to hear from anyone who served with me. I was in the RAF from 1942 to 1947, including three years in India, Burma and Singapore.




F/Sgt. John Ernest Phillips .     Royal Air Force 44 Sqdn. (d.1st September 1941)

My grandad's brother, F/Sgt Phillips, was part of the crew of a Hampden bomber that flew out of RAF Waddington and never returned. He is commemorated on Panel 37 at Runnymede.




Sgt. John Goodson Phillips .     Royal Air Force No. 102 Sqn. (d.9th Sep 1942)

Sergeant (Navigator) Phillips was the Son of Charles and May Louise Phillips.

He was 25 when his plane was shot down by enemy flak. He is buried in the Folschette (Rambroudh) Churchyard in Luxembourg.




F/O. John Douglas Phillips .     Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve 105 Squadron   from Wickford, Essex

(d.12th December 1943)

Flying Officer (Navigator) John Phillips was the Son of Vernon Cheveley Phillips and Frances Wylie Phillips of Wickford, Essex. He was 21 when his plane was shot down by German flak. He is buried in the Herwijnen General Cemetery, Gelderland, Netherlands.




Joseph John Phillips .     British Army East Surrey Regiment

John Phillips was born in South London on in 1904 and served in the Army from 1939 until 1945. His daughter remembers that he told her he was a Redcap. He died in Lewes, Sussex in 1998




JS Phillips .     British Army

JS Phillips served with the British Army. I have his unissued dogtags, made in preparation for deployment to the Far East and would love to get them home to his family. I am happy to cover all costs. If you are a family member or can put me in touch with them please get in touch.

Update: The Wartime Memories Project is no longer in contact with Dan , his website, facebook page and email have all ceased to function. But if you can add any details about the person listed, please use the add to record link below.




JS Phillips .     British Army 107th Regiment Royal Armoured Corps

JS Phillips served with the 107th Regiment Royal Armoured Corps British Army. I have his unissued dogtags, made in preparation for deployment to the Far East and would love to get them home to his family. I am happy to cover all costs. If you are a family member or can put me in touch with them please get in touch.

Update: The Wartime Memories Project is no longer in contact with Dan , his website, facebook page and email have all ceased to function. But if you can add any details about the person listed, please use the add to record link below.




LAC Kevin Phillips .     Royal Air Force




Major Melville Wallace Rupert O?Connor Phillips MID.       from South Africa

I am looking for information regarding my father Melville Phillips, who served in the Duke of Cornwall’s Light Infantry during WW2. As far as I can gather he was seconded into the British Army after signing up here in South Africa. I know he was mentioned in despatches and was wounded during the war. He was eventually a Major in the DCLI. Is there some place where I can get copies of his military records and service certificates, what medals he received and why. Unfortunately all the records that we has and the newspaper clippings etc, have either been lost or destroyed when we had two severe floods a couple of years back.

Update: Family members can request copies of service records from the MOD, there is a charge for this service and details can be found on our




N Phillips .     British Army

N Phillips served with the British Army. I have his unissued dogtags, made in preparation for deployment to the Far East and would love to get them home to his family. I am happy to cover all costs. If you are a family member or can put me in touch with them please get in touch.

Update: The Wartime Memories Project is no longer in contact with Dan , his website, facebook page and email have all ceased to function. But if you can add any details about the person listed, please use the add to record link below.




PG Phillips .     British Army

PG Phillips served with the British Army. I have his unissued dogtags, made in preparation for deployment to the Far East and would love to get them home to his family. I am happy to cover all costs. If you are a family member or can put me in touch with them please get in touch.

Update: The Wartime Memories Project is no longer in contact with Dan , his website, facebook page and email have all ceased to function. But if you can add any details about the person listed, please use the add to record link below.





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Can you help us to add to our records?

The names and stories on this website have been submitted by their relatives and friends. If your relations are not listed please add their names so that others can read about them


Did you or your relatives live through the Second World War? Do you have any photos, newspaper clippings, postcards or letters from that period? Have you researched the names on your local or war memorial? Were you or your relative evacuated? Did an air raid affect your area?

If so please let us know.

Help us to build a database of information on those who served both at home and abroad so that future generations may learn of their sacrifice.




Celebrate your own Family History

Celebrate by honouring members of your family who served in the Secomd World War both in the forces and at home. We love to hear about the soldiers, but also remember the many who served in support roles, nurses, doctors, land army, muntions workers etc.

Please use our Family History resources to find out more about your relatives. Then please send in a short article, with a photo if possible, so that they can be remembered on these pages.














The free section of the Wartime Memories Project website is run by volunteers. We have been helping people find out more about their relatives wartime experiences since 1999 by recording and preserving recollections, documents, photographs and small items.

The website is paid for out of our own pockets, library subscriptions and from donations made by visitors. The popularity of the site means that it is far exceeding available resources and we currently have a huge backlog of submissions.

If you are enjoying the site, please consider making a donation, however small to help with the costs of keeping the site running.



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