Robert Edwin Phillips
Lieutenant, 13th Battalion. (attached 9th Service Battn). Royal Warwickshire Regiment
- Register No.
- 986 (Alf's numbering, from The Register of the Victoria Cross, 1997)
- Rank
- Lieutenant (register: Temp. Lieutenant) all Lieutenants →
- Unit
- 13th Battalion. (attached 9th Service Battn). Royal Warwickshire Regiment all Royal Warwickshire Regiment VCs →
- Date of action
- 25 January 1917 on this day → all of 1917 →
- Conflict / campaign
- First World War
- London Gazette
- 8th June 1917 on this day → all of 1917 →
- Born
- 11th April 1895 at Hill Top, West Bromwich, Staffordshire
- Died
- 23rd September 1968 at St Veep, Lostwithiel, Cornwall
- Memorial / grave
- not known
Digest of citation
After his Commanding Officer, Lieutenant Colonel E Henderson had been mortally wounded whilst leading a counter attack on the 25th January 1917 at Kut-el-Amara, Mesopotamia, Lieutenant Phillips went out, under extremely heavy, concentrated fire, to his aid. With the help of a comrade, Corporal Scott, they succeeded in bringing him back to the safety of our lines. In the first instance, he had tried to run a telephone wire across the open ground, as he followed the Battalion. This became impossible when the signallers were killed. He then turned all his attention to rescuing his commanding officer, who was lying in the open
From Alf Askin's research notes
Reproduced as Alf wrote it, c. 2000–2005. Spelling and abbreviations are his own.
PHILLIPS, Robert Edwin. (reg No. 986).
Lieutenant.* 13th Battalion. (attached 9th Service Battn). Royal Warwickshire Regiment.
London Gazetted on 8th June 1917.
Born on 11th April 1895 at Hill Top, West Bromwich, Staffordshire.
Died on 23rd September 1968 at St Veep, Lostwithiel, Cornwall.
Memorial not known.
Digest of Citation reads: After his Commanding Officer, Lieutenant Colonel E Henderson had been mortally wounded whilst leading a counter attack on the 25th January 1917 at Kut-el-Amara, Mesopotamia, Lieutenant Phillips went out, under extremely heavy, concentrated fire, to his aid. With the help of a comrade, Corporal Scott, they succeeded in bringing him back to the safety of our lines. In the first instance, he had tried to run a telephone wire across the open ground, as he followed the Battalion. This became impossible when the signallers were killed. He then turned all his attention to rescuing his commanding officer, who was lying in the open.
* Also Adjutant.
Additional information:. He was the son of Alfred Phillips who lived at Hill Top, West Bromwich, Staffordshire. He was educated at the King Edward VI Grammar-School, Aston, Birmingham. One 17th March 1914 he joined the 1st/15th Company of the London Regiment. On 3rd December 1914 he was commissioned in the 9th Battalion, Royal Warwickshire Regiment. He arrived at Suvla Bay, Gallipoli, on the 6th October, 1915, where he served until the 17th November 1915, when he was wounded. His regiment moved to Mesopotamia, where he joined them, after convalescence from his wounds. Lieutenant Phillips served with his Regiment until 9th May 1918. He was promoted Lieutenant on 10th April 1916. He was mentioned in despatches on 31st March 1917 by Lieutenant General MAUDE and again on 31st March 1918, by Lieutenant General Marshall for distinguished service in Mesopotamia Lieutenant Colonel E E D Henderson, died shortly after he was brought back. He too was also awarded the Victoria Cross. (reg No. 557). Corporal Scott was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal (DCM). On the 9th May 1918, Lieutenant Phillips transferred to the newly-formed Royal Air Force. His training as a pilot was interrupted in October 1918, when he went on leave and by the eventual signing of the Armistice. He left the service on 13th February 1919. He was presented with a silver casket on a visit to his old school, King Edward VI Grammar School.
Additional information
He was the son of Alfred Phillips who lived at Hill Top, West Bromwich, Staffordshire. He was educated at the King Edward VI Grammar-School, Aston, Birmingham. One 17th March 1914 he joined the 1st/15th Company of the London Regiment. On 3rd December 1914 he was commissioned in the 9th Battalion, Royal Warwickshire Regiment. He arrived at Suvla Bay, Gallipoli, on the 6th October, 1915, where he served until the 17th November 1915, when he was wounded. His regiment moved to Mesopotamia, where he joined them, after convalescence from his wounds. Lieutenant Phillips served with his Regiment until 9th May 1918. He was promoted Lieutenant on 10th April 1916. He was mentioned in despatches on 31st March 1917 by Lieutenant General MAUDE and again on 31st March 1918, by Lieutenant General Marshall for distinguished service in Mesopotamia Lieutenant Colonel E E D Henderson, died shortly after he was brought back. He too was also awarded the Victoria Cross. (reg No. 557). Corporal Scott was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal (DCM). On the 9th May 1918, Lieutenant Phillips transferred to the newly-formed Royal Air Force. His training as a pilot was interrupted in October 1918, when he went on leave and by the eventual signing of the Armistice. He left the service on 13th February 1919. He was presented with a silver casket on a visit to his old school, King Edward VI Grammar School.
* Also Adjutant.
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