PHILLIPS, Bert

Bert Phillips was the son of Emmanuel and Louisa Phillips of 15 Fletcher Street, Wollescote, and attended Wollescote school. He enlisted in 1917 and was sent to the Hampshire Regiment to join the 1st Battalion. He was one of the young men of the 1917 draft who had been held in reserve by the Lloyd George government until 1918. He arrived to face the first great German offensive of March 1918, followed by the second in April on the Lys. The Hampshires defended the approach to Armentičres and Béthune on the 18th April and were ultimately successful. Casualties, however, were very heavy. Private Bert Phillips was seriously wounded and taken to a Casualty Clearing Station near Lillers where he died of wounds on the 27th April. He was 18 years of age and is buried in Pernes British Cemetery (II A 18) and commemorated on the Lye and Wollescote, Lye church and Wollescote school Memorials. His brother, Benjamin, was killed in 1915.