Name
Sydney Phillips
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
23/05/1917
36
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
20686
Royal Warwickshire Regiment
10th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
BAILLEUL COMMUNAL CEMETERY EXTENSION, NORD
III. B. 162.
France
Headstone Inscription
UNTIL THE DAY BREAKS
UK & Other Memorials
Harpenden Town Memorial, Church of St Nicholas Memorial, Harpenden, Barnet memorials not yet fully researched(*1)
Pre War
Sydney was born in1881 in Barnet to Benjamin Phillips, a gardener, and Ruth Maria (nee Smith).
On the 1891 Census were living at Gardeners Cottage, Trent Park, Enfield as his father was the head gardener. By the 1901 Census the family were living Cold Harbour, Harpenden where his Father was a nurseryman and Sydney was also working in the nursery situated at Norrisbury, Westfield, Harpenden. On the 1911 Census Sydney was listed as a florist.
He married Minnie J E Lewer in 1911 and they lived at Cornwall Road, Harpenden. He was a member of the Congregational Church in Harpenden.
Wartime Service
Sydney enlisted as Private 12197, Army Cyclist Corps but was transferred as Private 20686 in the Royal Warwickshire Regiment.
He joined the 10rh (Service) Battalion which in 1917 were deployed in Flanders preparatory to the Battle of Messines. Sydney was wounded and died on 23 May 1917.
Additional Information
His widow, Mrs. M E Phillips, Whilton House, 6 Cornwall Rd., Harpenden, Herts. ordered his headstone inscription: "UNTIL THE DAY BREAKS". *1 If known, the ‘Barnet’ memorial is given, however ‘Barnet’ now appears to be the generic name for many historically separate Hertfordshire locations with Barnet in their name. While we try to unravel these – any help gratefully received! – we have to record ‘Barnet’. It may be that a person appears on several historical ‘barnets’. As this work is done, we will add further detail. War Gratuity of £3 and arrears of £3 0s 7d was paid to his widow.
Acknowledgments
Neil Cooper
Jonty Wild, Mary Skinner, Harpenden & District Local History Society (www.harpenden-history.org.uk)
