Pte 24835 Edward Lea Phillips

• Age: 29
• From: Aughton, Lancs
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 17th Btn
• K.I.A Thursday 12th October 1916
• Commemorated at: Thiepval Memorial
  Panel Ref: P&F1D8B &8 C.

Edward Lea Phillips was born in 1887 and was baptised on 08^th September, 1887 at St Peter & Paul, Church, Aughton the son of John and Annie Phillips (nee Dutton). His parents married on Christmas Day 1869 at St Andrew's Church, Bebington, Wirral. John was a 27 year old clerk, father Robert, whilst Ann was aged 21, father Joseph, the both resided in Higher Bebington. They had ten children. The family lived on the Wirral, where Annie Beatrice, John Arthur, Charles Cecil, Ethel Summers, Herbert Dutton, and Agnes Gertrude were born, and in about 1884 moved to Aughton, where Florence Muriel, Edward, Enid Laing, and Gladys Elaine were born.

At the time of the 1891 census they are living at “Belmont” in Aughton Park, with eight children, a cook, and a housemaid.  Edward is 3 years old.  His father is a stock exchange secretary.

The 1901 Census shows the family living at (Belmont), Aughton Park, Aughton, Ormskirk. His father John is aged 59, born 1842 occupation Secretary to Stock Exchange and Secretary to Limited Liability Company, born Horsham, Sussex, his wife Annie is aged 52, born 1849 in Liverpool. They have six children. Ethel S aged 20, born 1881, Agnes G Aged 18, born 1883, both born in Rock Ferry, Florence M aged 16, born 1885, Edward Lea aged 13, born 1888, Enid L aged 11, born 1890 and Gladys E aged 10, born 1891 all born in Aughton. They have two servants living at the address Mary J Hall, aged 17, born 1884 occupation Cook(Domestic) born in Skelmersdale and Elizabeth Abraham aged 16, born 1885 occupation Housemaid (Domestic ) born in Lydiate.

Edward has not been found on the 1911 census. His parents are still at Belmont with four daughters and a domestic servant.  His father, 69, is secretary to the stock exchange and to a limited liability company, his mother is 62.  None of the daughters has an occupation.

His father retired in 1914 shortly before the war, but with the mass enlistment of young men he returned to the Stock Exchange and worked another three years.

Edward enlisted in Liverpool and was serving in the 17th Battalion, The King’s Liverpool Regiment as Private No 24835. Based on the amount of the War Gratuity, Edward enlisted in about December 1914.

He was billeted at Prescot Watch Factory, 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 with his battalion, disembarking at Boulogne on 07th November 1915.

He was killed in action on the 12th October 1916 aged 29 during the Battle of the Transloy Ridges which was part of the ongoing Somme Offensive.

17^th Bn War Diary:  Battle of Transloy Ridge –                                               

11-10-16 - Gird Trench/Gird Support – Battalion in front line and support trenches. British bombardment of enemy front line system commenced about midday.  Hostile shelling was intermittent throughout the day.

12-10-16  - Our bombardment continued. Enemy reply weak.  2.5 p.m. Zero hour. Attack on German front line system commenced.  Enemy wire was found to be uncut and attack was unsuccessful.  Hostile machine gun fire was very heavy and caused many casualties. Battalion H.Q. and Support Trench were heavily shelled throughout afternoon and evening. […] During this action all communication had to be carried out by runners and carrier pigeons as all wires were being continually cut by enemy shelling.

Casualties: 5 officers killed,  5 officers wounded, 38 OR killed, about 225 OR wounded/missing etc.

Graham Maddocks, in “Liverpool Pals” p.140, adds:

“As the whistle blew, the 17^th Battalion left its trenches to move forward.  […]  As soon as the attacking waves left their trenches the enemy artillery began to register on them, and at the same time, the defending infantry commenced a murderous rain of fire.  […]  Although their numbers had been depleted by the British bombardment, they were trained and experienced soldiers, well dug in on high ground, and for the most part, looking out on uncut wire.  As such, it was virtually impossible for them to miss the City Battalion men struggling to advance in the mud towards them.   The 17^th Battalion, on the left, was particularly badly hit, as its portion of No Man’s Land contained a slight rise in the ground, and as the troops emerged onto it they were silhouetted against the sky and became easy targets.  Those on the left of the attack, who managed to avoid the hail of bullets and make it to the German wire, then found that it was totally uncut, and thus trapped, they too became easy targets, to be picked off almost at the enemy’s will.  It was hardly surprising that, seeing the first waves being wiped out, some of the following waves turned back and made for their start lines. These lines were now packed with other waves of troops, however, and the fleeing men added to the congestion already there, and became easy prey for the German gunners.  There is some evidence also, to suggest that at this stage, the British trenches were also being hit by their own heavy artillery shells which were falling short.”

He was initially declared Missing in Liverpool Echo 01st November 1916.  

His death was later presumed for official purposes to have occurred on or since 12th October 1916.

Edward's body was not recovered or was subsequently lost as he has no known grave and is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial, France.

The Thiepval Memorial, the Memorial to the Missing of the Somme, bears the names of more than 72,000 officers and men of the United Kingdom and South African forces who died in the Somme sector before 20 March 1918 and have no known grave. Over 90% of those commemorated died between July and November 1916. 

On 01st August 1932 the Prince of Wales and the President of France inaugurated the Thiepval Memorial in Picardy. The inscription reads: “Here are recorded the names of officers and men of the British Armies who fell on the Somme battlefields between July 1915 and March 1918 but to whom the fortune of war denied the known and honoured burial given to their comrades in death.”

Edward earned his three medals.

Probate records: Administration 19 October to John Phillips retired secretary. Effects £174 14s 15d.

His father, John, received his Army pay and a War Gratuity of £8.  No pension card has been found, suggesting that Edward had no dependents or that his father did not apply for a pension.  

His brother Herbert, 34, married with two daughters, served with the 1/6th Bn. K.L.R.  He was wounded in action and died on 19th April 1915 at No.3 C.C.S. at Hazebrouck.  (Another daughter was born a month after his death.)  Herbert now rests in Poperinghe Old Military Cemetery, where his epitaph reads,

“THY WAY NOT MINE O LORD”. 

The family home, Belmont, a 14-room, “detached freehold house with good garden” was put up for sale in August 1918.  

His parents celebrated their golden wedding anniversary in 1919.

His father died the following year in Stratford on Avon, aged 78.  

His mother died, aged 75, in 1924 in Stratford. 

Edward and Herbert are commemorated on the Aughton Civic Memorial and the Ormskirk Comrades Roll of Honour. 

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