40666 L/Cpl
17th Battalion Royal Scots, 106th Infantry Brigade, 35th Division
Age: 24
Date of Death: 25.10.17
Buried: Tyne Cot Memorial Panel 11 to 14
Family History: Son of George and Elizabeth Philip, Millar Place, Stenhousemuir. Prior to enlisting in the Scots Greys (2nd Dragoon Guards) in August 1914, he was employed as a gardener at Larbert House.
He was severely wounded in January 1916 and on recovering from his wounds was transferred to the Royal Scots in December 1916. He had three brothers who were also serving. Signalman Andrew Philip R.N.V.R. was drowned when the HM Hospital ship Salta was sunk by a mine in April 1916. Sergeant James Philip, Argyll’s, was discharged after 17 years service and Signalman John Philip R.N.
The action leading to his death
The 35th Division were in the line in the north of the Salient around Houthulst Forest with the right boundary of the division fixed at the road junction 600 yards north of Aden House. The Battalion was held in Brigade reserve at Wood 15 and the reserve area was subjected to sporadic enemy shelling.
(Linesman Map)
His mother received a letter from her son’s Platoon Officer, Second Lieutenant D Weatherstone, he wrote: ‘It was during an extremely heavy barrage, which preceded a Boche counter-attack, your son was hit and killed instantaneously by a shell, when he was on the look out for the first sign of the Boche behind the barrage.’
Medals Awarded
The British War Medal, Victory Medal.
