Born in 1893 at Poplar, son of Evan (Retail Chemist) and Alice Phillips. 1901: With his family at 9 Station Terrace, Snakes Lane, Woodford Green. 1911: A Chemists Assistant living with his family at “Oakley”, later numbered 3 Monkhams Avenue. He was an Old Bancroftian. His father died in 1914 after a long illness, putting responsibility for the family business onto Norman and Edgar.
He was admitted to the Regiment on 14th June 1915 and served with A Battery of the Artillery Section. He was sent overseas on 18th January 1916, where the Battery formed 1 Brigade Royal Horse Artillery (Territorial Force) in Suez with 1/B Battery of the same Regiment.
They played a full role in the Palestine campaign, including the 2nd Transjordan Attack on Shunet Nimrin and Es Salt. Both Batteries were in action when the Turkish forces launched an overwhelming and skillful counter attack on 1st May 1918. A Battery, having been firing into the advancing enemy at a range of 200 yards at 11.30, was then forced to make a rapid withdrawal under heavy fire. In doing this they lost all their guns which were taken as “prizes” by the Turks.
During fighting that day Norman Phillips was Killed in Action.
He and his brother Edgar are commemorated at Bancroft’s School which they both attended.
X/R: Pioneer Edgar Evan Phillips (Brother)
Research by Adrian Lee, Local Historian
Sources:
Ancestry.com
Regimental History
For more information on this individual please see The Old Bancroftian website.