No. 28447, Private, Frank P. PHILLIPS
Aged 25
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There are many conflicting records for this man, however they do apparently refer to the same man. The problem is to sort out which record is actually fact. The appearance of a Mary McKenzie at the end of his life, claiming to be his mother is just one such anomaly, she is however on his "Personal Effects entry as mother.. Frank Phillips was born in Worlington (Mildenhall Q3-1891 4A:751), son of George Pettengil and Mary Ann PHILLIPS (née HUNT, born Tuddenham) 1901 census... Aged 9 he was at The Street, Worlington with his father George PHILLIPS [48] a widower, platelayer GER, born Mildenhall, his brothers William J [14] and Robert H. [12] born in Worlington and cousin Sarah GOOCH [30] born Cavenham. His mother had died in 1893 (Mildenhall Q4-1893 4A:476). He had elder brothers and a sister, Richard G [1881]; Thomas [1883] and Ann E E [1886]. Richard G was usually referred to as George 1911 census... Aged 22? he was at Bloemfontein, Orange Free State, South Africa, a private in the 1st Battalion The Scottish Rifles (The Cameronians) George PHILLIPS, a widower, was still living at The Street, Worlington with his sister Hannah MOMFORD. One Army record gives his next of kin as brothers George in Worlington, Thomas in Fordham and William and Robert in the 1st Suffolk Regiment His Army records (Living relatives form 5080 completed by his father in 1920) have his father in Worlington, his mother Maryann Phillips in Mildenhall, brothers George living in Cherryhinton, Thomas in Haverhill, William, Sunderland and sister Ellen JENKINS in London. The form clearly names both father George P and brother George and is signed by father. All a bit strange since the census of 1901 and 1911 have George as a widower and records show Mary Ann dying in 1893. In 1922 correspondence with the Army still has next of kin as father George P Phillips His brother Robert was killed serving in Belgium in 1915, serving in the Suffolk Regiment. see here |
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A very full set of Army records exist in the "burnt documents". He was a colourful chap seemingly, described at one stage as clean, hard working but addicted to drink! His medical history was also interesting. The anti-climax was dying of measles in Edinburgh. He enlisted Bury St Edmunds in the Scottish Rifles (# 9559) on 9th May 1907, for 7 years in the colours, a labourer born in Worlington, giving his age as 18 yrs 2 months ( which looks like he added on 2 years and will probably add to his age throughout his army service). He was 5'8" (172.7 cm)tall, weighing 123 lbs (55.8 kg) and chest of 31 to 34.5" (78.7 to 87.6 cm) with light brown hair and blue eyes. His next of kin were recorded as brothers George (Worlington), Thomas (Fordham) and William and Robert both in 1st Suffolks He joined the regiment at Hamilton on 11 May 1907 and was placed in the 1st Battalion. He suffered from diphtheria in March 1908. Promoted to Lance Corporal on 13th November 1908, he was sent with the 2nd Battalion aboard the HMTS 'Soudan' on 2nd February 1909 to Cawnpore, India. Whilst in India he contracted gonorrhoea and was hospitalised for 45 days on 5th October 1909. Whilst recovering from that he absented himself and was demoted to Private on 2nd October 1909. On 14th December 1909 he went to South Africa, where he was serving at the time of the 1911 census, in Bloemfontein. He left South Africa on the HTM 'Soudan' on 18th November 1911 to go to Malta to 2nd Battalion. Malta seemed to have affected him somewhat since his punishment record then became quite extensive due to many occasions of drunkenness and absence from duty. Nothing very serious since the worst punishment was a 10 shilling fine (50p) and 10 days confined to barracks. His health was affected by 2 stays in hospital in Cottonera with appendicitis in 1912 His discharge to the Reserves is not documented but would have been 7th May 1914. His next record is dated 25th September 1914, presumably his recall from the Reserves. He was posted to the BEF in France on 4th November 1914. (no claim was made for the clasp) On 3rd December 1914 he suffered frostbite and was first taken to the Canadian Hospital in Paris, thence to 10 General Hospital in Rouen before being repatriated on the HMHS Galatea on 28th December 1914. He remained in UK and moved to the 3rd Battalion on 7th February 1915 and was transferred to the 1st Battalion Royal Scots on 11th August 1915, remaining in UK. In January 1916 he suffered a recurrence of gonorrhea which entailed treatment at Glencorse and ultimately Newcastle Workhouse Infirmary. Next he was sent with the 13th battalion via Folkestone/Boulogne on 20th September 1916 to rejoin the BEF in France, and joined the 2nd Battalion on 18th October 1916 He sustained a gun shot wound to the chest on 3rd November 1916, in action near Serre. Taken to 4 CCS he was then forwarded to a General Hospital at Etaples before repatriation to UK on 24th November 1916 On the 23rd April 1917 he was admitted to 2 Scottish General Hospital with measles. Transferred to City Hospital, Edinburgh his condition worsened and he died at 8:15 pm on 12th May 1917. His burial in Edinburgh may be associated with the fact that it had been requested his medals be sent to Mrs Mary McKenzie, 62 Balcaries Street, Edinburgh. It may explain burial in a cemetery containing only 7 CWGC graves, in Scotland, rather than return to Worlington. His father had claimed for 1914 Star since he was initially not awarded any Star. The clasp was not claimed All very mysterious this Mrs Mckenzie bit, she received Frank's War medal and Victory medal in January 1922, whereas his 1914 star was received in 1920 by his brother George. Usually those who died in UK were taken to their home town for burial, but it is claimed that his mother had re-married and was the Mrs McKenzie referred to above. His death certificate states that his mother Mary Mcfarlane [now McKenzie], remarried a Roderick McKenzie and that she resided at East Currie. Presumably this was why he was buried in Scotland rather than being returned to Worlington for burial. The certificate also clearly states that his father, George, is deceased. Other records show correspondence from his father to the War Department as late as 1921 and he seems to have died in 1925! |
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