Name
Philip Ernest Posner
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
27/04/1917
19
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Second Lieutenant
South Staffordshire Regiment
3rd Bn., attached 8th (or 4th) Bn., Lincolnshire Regiment
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
ARRAS MEMORIAL
Bay 6.
France
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
Watford Borough Roll of Honour, 1st S.W. Herts Scout Troop Memorial, Watford, Watford Grammar School Memorial, Watford, Watford Grammar School Book of Remembrance
Pre War
Son of Nathaniel and Hortense (nee SAMUELSON) POSNER of Watford.
His parents married 26 November 1891 at Hampstead Register Office, London. Nathaniel died 1 August 1940 in Whitstable, Kent, aged 74; Hortense died 3 April 1946 in Edgware, Middx, aged 79.
Philip was born 13 or 30 January 1898 in Kilburn, London, and attended Watford Grammar School from April 1909 to July 1914. He was an engineering student at East London College, University of London.
On the 1901 Census, aged 3 he lived in Kensal Green, London, with his parents and two siblings. On the 1911 Census, a schoolboy aged 13, he lived in Watford, with his parents and two siblings.
Wartime Service
He was formerly Lance-Corporal in the University of London O.T.C. He was entitled to the Victory and British War medals, which were sent to his father of Watford.
He was wounded 28 April 1917 and reported missing, presumed killed in action in an attack on the chemical works near Rouex. Recommended for the Military Cross.
Additional Information
The published Watford Grammar School Book of Remembrance entry reads:
“POSNER, PHILIP ERNEST. School period: April, 1909, to July, 1914. Second Lieutenant, 3rd South Staffordshire Regiment, attached 8th Lincolns. Wounded 28th April, 1917, and reported missing, presumed killed; recommended for M.C. ”
There is an article about Philip in the West Herts and Watford Observer dated 1 September 1917; plus a Grammar School In Memoriam in the issue dated 22 December 1917, and an In Memoriam in the issue dated 26 April 1919. Philip Posner, John Heather, William Newell and Frederick Wild, all commemorated on this roll of honour, were pioneers of Scouting in Hertfordshire. Philip and John were pupils at Watford Grammar School for Boys. Philip’s parents bequeathed 21 guineas to the school to provide a science prize in their son’s memory.
The mothers of John and Frederick helped the Scoutmaster with the work of the Scout Troop. William’s tragic death mirrored that of Jack Cornwell, the nationally commemorated Scout who died of injuries sustained at the Battle of Jutland. These four boys were members of the The 1st South West Herts (Countess of Clarendon’s Own), Hertfordshire’s first registered Scout Troop, inaugurated in 1908. 80 other previous members served in World War 1. Their meeting place in 1914 was in the Church Hall of St Mary’s Church, where the Memorial plaque honouring the four who died is situated on the north wall. The 1st Watford South (Countess of Clarendon’s Own) incorporating 82nd Watford South Scout Group, which retains its lifelong association with the Clarendon family in its title and patronage, now has its Headquarters at the Scout Hut in Durban Road East, West Watford.
Acknowledgments
Sue Carter (Research) and Watford Museum (ROH on line via www.ourwatfordhistory.org.uk)
