TETHER, Philip

Philip Tether was the son of Thomas and Eliza Tether of 25 Islington Street, Halesowen, and attended Hasbury C of E School. He volunteered for the Worcester Territorials and joined the 1/7th Battalion which went to France in the Spring of 1915 and eventually to the Somme front line at Hébuterne. The early months of 1916 included much shelling and the weather was wet. Their task was to prepare for the Battle of the Somme and they went to the front line for its second main phase. On the 13th August they took over front line trenches at Ovillers including the important Skyline Trench. Their first attack occurred on the 21st August when the fighting continued into the night without gaining new ground. They stayed in the front line for three more weeks and suffered losses from shelling. One of the casualties was Private Philip Tether who was killed on the 5th September. He was 24 years of age and is buried in Auchonvillers Cemetery (II H 13) and commemorated on the Halesowen and Hasbury C of E School Memorials.