Name
Godfrey Philpot
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
01/09/1916
25
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Captain
Royal Garrison Artillery
25th Siege Battery
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 /15 Star, British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
BRONFAY FARM MILITARY CEMETERY, BRAY-SUR-SOMME
I. D. 43.
France
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
St Saviour's Church War Memorial, Radcliffe Rd., Hitchin, St Mary's Church Roll of Honour (Book), Hitchin
Pre War
He was born in Moreford Lodge, Kingston Hill, Surrey on the 23rd July 1891. He was the son of Henry and Geraldine Philpot of Sherfield Manor. Romsey, Hants. He was unmarried.
He was educated in Cheltenham College (1905-10) and the Royal Military College, Woolwich (1911-12). At Cheltenham he was a College Prefect and captain of the Rugby XV (1910) and the Hockey XI, so a keen sportsman. He went on to play football for the United Services in 1912.
Gazetted 2nd Lieutenant in the Royal Garrison Artillery on the 19th July 1912 and served in Gibralter in 1913.
Wartime Service
He served with the BEF in a Heavy Battery and gazetted to Lieutenant on the 2nd June 1915 and was killed in action on the Somme whilst serving in the 25th Siege Battery of the Royal Garrison Artillery who were equipped with 8" howitzers and part of the 4th Army.
He was killed by a shell whilst acting as a Forward Observation Officer. This was a notoriously dangerous and uncomfortable job often in the front line with the infantry. The positions were usually exposed and very dangerous.
Major-General Johnston, C.B., C.R.A of Gibraltar wrote: "I looked on your son as one of the most promising young officers, and had known from all accounts he had fully justified my opinion of him at the front"
Lieut. Col Jenour, Commanding 31st Heavy Artillery Group wrote of him “I cannot tell you how grieved I was to hear of your son's death. I knew him as a young officer at Plymouth and about three months ago his Battery joined my Group. He was a most excellent officer, full of courage and cheerfulness under heavy shellfire and inspiring confidence in his men. His death is a great loss to the battery, as he was universally popular with officers and men, and was thoroughly proficient as an artillery officer. He had been recommended to command a Battery. Personally I had the highest opinion of your son in every way, and his death deprives us of a friend for whom I had great esteem.”
Additional Information
His connection with Hitchin has not been established and in Hitchin he is only remembered in St. Saviour's church. He may have been known to the vicar of St. Saviour's Church as his mother was the daughter of the Rector of Edworth.
Acknowledgments
David C Baines, Jonty Wild
