PHIPSON, William

William Phipson was born in Lye and volunteered for the Worcesters. He joined the 9th (Service) Battalion, spent the next few months in training and was sent out to Gallipoli in 1915 to break the stalemate on the peninsula. They landed successfully at Suvla Bay on the 6th August and attempted to seize the crest of the ridge. Turkish defence was fierce but, though close by the 10th, they were unable to gain further territory. After months of stalemate and subsequent evacuation of the peninsula the 9th moved to Mesopotamia to continue the war with the Turks. The main objective was to relieve the British garrison at Kut and a march up the Tigris was undertaken. Speed was essential and the troops were nearly exhausted after fighting the heat as well as the Turks. An action at Bait Isa on the19-20th April halted the advance. Kut fell soon afterwards but Private William Phipson was killed on the 20th. He is buried in Amara Cemetery (VI G 5) and commemorated on the Lye and Wollescote and Lye church Memorials.