Previous Lot Next Lot

Auction: 21103 - Orders, Decorations and Medals e-Auction 4
Lot: 282

Pair: Private F. McPhillips, Royal Fusiliers, who also served underage was dismissed from the 6th Battalion, London Regiment; having come of age and re-joined, he was killed in action on 8 October 1918 at the Second Battle of Cambrai - one of the 'The Forenville Fallen'

British War and Victory Medals (GS-75075 Pte. F. McPhillips. R. Fus.), nearly extremely fine

Francis McPhillips was born in 1899 at Redhill, Surrey. By 1901 his parents had moved to the Waleran Buildings on the Old Kent Road and in 1911 were at Arthur Street, Newington St Mary. Young McPhillips, using his nickname 'Frank', enlisted in the 6th Battalion, London Regiment (No. 4460) on 9 June 1915. He served at home in the ranks until 4 February 1916, when he was discovered to be underage and was dismissed.

Having reached the required age, he joined the Royal Fusiliers and served initially in France with the 10th Battalion from 14 February-23 May 1918, before joining the 4th Battalion on 2 October 1918. He only served with that unit for the space of six days, for he was killed on 8 October 1918. A comrade - Donald Price - spoke of the events that the unit faced, being assisted in the attack by the Tank Corps:

'We got to a place called Caudry, it were in a sunken road, it was. I’d got a section, about eight men, who were still alive. And we were going over, I said, ‘Now you fellows, look,’ I said, ‘you are going to be spread out on this field where we’re going.’ So over we go and it wasn’t bad. There were bullets flying all over the bloody place and somebody said, ‘That farm’s got to be taken.’ It was called Hurtebise Farm. Anyhow, we were going on, me and me pal, and a tank came along – a British tank – came along, you see, to help with the attack. And we went behind this tank, you see, it was easy – we were walking, hardly anything was happening. And anyhow, there was a great big valley, really, and on the other side of the valley we could see three Germans, and they’d just come out of this trench. And, anyhow, we’d gone on a bit and just before I got to the top of this, I got one, you see. Got me in the leg, you see, but the bullet went straight through my leg and blew a great big hole in the back of my leg, you see. It didn’t hurt! But I was really thankful that I’d got it, I really was! And anyhow, I stopped and I turned round and off I went. And five or six German prisoners came along and they helped me down.'

McPhillips is recalled as one of 'The Forenville Fallen' (https://livesofthefirstworldwar.iwm.org.uk/community/6819, refers) and is buried in the Forenville Military Cemetery; sold together with copied research.

Subject to 20% VAT on Buyer’s Premium. For more information please view Terms and Conditions for Buyers.

Sold for
£80

Starting price
£30