Herbert was born on 2nd October 1898 and he attended Ilford County High School between 12th September 1911 and 29th July 1915. Previously, he had been a pupil at Downshall School, also in Ilford. Whilst at Ilford County High School, he achieved a pass in the Cambridge Senior Local Examination. Upon leaving school, he became a clerk in an insurance office.
Herbert’s father, Wallace, was an assistant schoolmaster. His mother, Emma, looked after Herbert and his four siblings. The family lived at 112 Blythswood Road, Ilford in 1911. Two of his sisters worked as dressmakers.
Herbert was a rifleman with the Queen’s Westminster Regiment (service number 554843). He died on 27th November 1917, aged 19 and was buried in Louverval Military Cemetery in Doignies (Grave B.9).
The school magazine, Chronicles, reported in Spring 1918, ‘Private H. Phipps was killed…assisting his captain to set up a Lewis gun when they were both hit by shrapnel. An only son- the pity of it! He was deservedly popular at school.’
Research by Andrew Emeny, History Teacher at ICHS
Sources:
Ancestry.com
ICHS school records and magazines
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
Note
Ilford County High School started life as the Park Higher Grade School in 1901 in Balfour Road, Ilford. It was renamed Ilford County High School (or initially County High School, Ilford) in the years after the school’s management was transferred from Ilford School Board to Essex Education Committee in 1904.