No.G/29080, Private, Albert George PHILLIPS
Aged 29
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Albert Phillips was born on 1st February 1889 in Little Wratting (Risbridge Q1-1889 4A:641), son of Mary Ann PHILLIPS, grand-daughter of Eliza PHILLIPS
1891 census...Aged 2, he was at The Cottage, Moores Pasture, Little Wratting with his grandfather David PHILLIPS [52] farm labourer born Kedington; his grandmother Eliza PHILLIPS [51] born Kedington; uncles Henry [27] farm labourer, born Kedington, George [17] farm labourer, Joseph [13], aunts Susannah [12] and Julia [7]. All after Henry were born in Little Wratting. His grandfather died just before the 1901 census. 1901 census... Aged 12, he was at Cotton Hall Lane, Kedington with his widowed grandmother Eliza, uncle Henry and aunt Julia 1911 census...Aged 22, a bricklayer's labourer, he was at Arms Lane, Kedington with his grandmother Eliza, uncle Henry and aunt Julia. "Soldiers Died" has him born in Little Wratting, resident in Kedington. On the Soldiers Personal Effects entry his sole legatee is Eliza but noted as "mother". CWGC have just that he was the brother of Miss Emma Phillips of Arms Lane, Kedington ( the address in 1911 of his grandparents). All rather confusing since Eliza was his grandmother, and Emma PHILLIPS (born 1868) would appear to be his aunt according to 1881 census. His birth certificate gives his mother as Mary Ann Phillips. |
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He enlisted in Bury St.Edmunds.
The account in "The Royal Fusiliers in the Great War" by H.C.O'Neill OBE has :- The 3rd Battalion had only reached France in July, at Dieppe. They had rested and trained and then marched through the night of the 3rd October. At 6:10 in the morning of the 4th they advanced between Le Catelet and Venduile against the redoubt at Richmond Copse. It was a difficult target, going down the slope to the Scheldt Canal and then up again on the other side. Enfiladed from both sides they nevertheless reached their objective at 7:30. Sadly, finding themselves isolated, they had to go back step by step to their starting point. They had swept a clean path, taken 300 prisoners, so that the 4th Kings Royal Rifles were able to advance that evening over the same ground with few casualties. It was though at great cost to the Fusiliers, 9 officers killed, 2 wounded and 139 other rank casualties. The CWGC figures are 7 officer killed and 30 other other ranks
Another stone showing its age and in need of replacement photo: Commonwealth War Graves Commission click here to go to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website for full cemetery/memorial details |
