Pte 15233 Edward Stanley Philipps

• Age: 30
• From: Liverpool
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 17th Btn
• K.I.A Monday 15th May 1916
• Commemorated at: Cerisy-gailly Mil Cem
  Panel Ref: II.D.6

Edward Stanley Philipps was born in the March quarter of 1886 in Liverpool, one of eleven children born to John Philipps, a tea trader born in Carmarthenshire, and his wife Dora (nee Roberts), born in Pembrokeshire.

The 1901 Census shows Edward Stanley aged 15 years, a clerk with a cotton broker, living with his family at 51 Rockfield Road, Liverpool. 

In 1902 his mother died and in 1907 he lost his father. 

He married Elizabeth Carlisleon the 1st December 1909 in Liverpool and  at the time of the Census of 1911 they had a daughter, Brenda Elizabeth, born on 09th January 1911, and were living at “Waverley”, Priory Road, Anfield. Edward is shown to be a Cotton Salesman.

Edward Stanley enlisted in Liverpool joining the 17th Battalion of the King's Liverpool Regiment as Private 15233.

He was billeted at Prescot Watch Factory from 14^th September 1914, he trained there and also at Knowsley Hall. On 30th April 1915 the 17th Battalion alongside the other three Pals battalions left Liverpool via Prescot Station for further training at Belton Park, Grantham. They remained here until September 1915 when they reached Larkhill Camp on Salisbury Plain. He arrived in France on 7^th November 1915.

He was killed in action on 16^th May 1916, aged 30.

He now rests at Cerisy-Gailly Military Cemetery Grave II D 6. His headstone records his name as PHILLIPPS. However, he signed his marriage certificate with only one L and also completed the 1911 Census showing his name as Philipps.     

His service record is not available but we know from his medal card that he served in France from 7^th November 1915, earning all 3 medals.

CWGC shows him as the husband of Elizabeth, of 142 Priory Road, Anfield.

A report in the Liverpool Daily Post dated 22nd May 1916:

Phillips- May 15, killed in action by a shell, aged 30 years. Edward Stanley (Stan) Phillips, King's Liverpool Regiment, the beloved husband of Midge Phillips, 142, Priory Road, Anfield, and youngest son of the late John and Dora Phillips, Rockfield Road, Anfield. (member of Mariners Lodge 249). 

Soldiers Effects and Pension to his widow Elizabeth.

His widow Elizabeth received his Army effects and a War Gratuity of £7-10s, and was awarded a pension of 15/- a week from November 1916, increased to £2-5s in May 1918, her address shown as 311 Walton Breck Road, Anfield. 

On the first anniversary of his death his loved ones placed In Memoriam notices: 

“In sad but happy memory of Stan, the dearly-loved husband of M. Philipps (nee Carlisle), killed in action in the Battle of the Somme, May 15, 1916.  (We’ll meet again in the morning, in the dawn of a fairer day.) - Midge and Brenda, late of 142 Priory Road.” 

“In loving memory of our beloved brother, Edward Stanley Philipps, killed in France May 15, 1916.

Peace, perfect peace, with loved ones far away,

In Jesu’s keeping we are safe and they. 

 - 51 Rockfield Road.” 

He was also remembered in 1918 by his widow, “Absent but ever near”, and his siblings, “Greater love hath no man”. 

Edward Stanley is commemorated on the following Memorials:

Cotton Association in Liverpool

Liverpool’s Hall of Remembrance, Panel 54 (Phillips)

His immediately elder brother, Ernest Garfield Philipps, born on 9^th June 1881 and shown in 1901 as a shipping clerk, married in 1909 and enlisted on 5^th November 1915 as Driver 147117, 613 Motor Transport Company, Royal Army Service Corps, serving in India and South Africa. He was pensioned off in August 1919 with the rank of Acting Corporal, and awarded a 40% disability pension suffering from the effects of dysentery and malaria.  He had at least 3 children, including a son born in 1917 and named John Stanley Philipps, presumably named after Edward Stanley.

We currently have no further information on Edward Stanley Philipps, If you have or know someone who may be able to add to the history of this soldier, please contact us.