Thomas was born in West Ham on 27th August 1889 and he was one of Ilford County High School’s first cohort of students, joining on 1st July 1901. Previously, he had been a pupil at Cleveland Road Elementary School, Ilford. His parents, Thomas and Annie lived at 78 Richmond Road, before moving to 7 Holcombe Road. His father was the clerk to the governors of the Ilford County High School. Thomas was an only son. He continued in his father’s footsteps and became the School Secretary. Upon his death, he was described by his former headmaster as having, ‘uniform courtesy, thoughtful consideration, absolute reliability and devotion to duty.’ His younger sisters were Winifred (who worked as a student teacher in 1911) and Doris.
Thomas enlisted as a private in the 23rd Battalion of the Royal Fusiliers (Service number PS/10933). He was killed in action on 13th November 1916 and buried in Redan Ridge Cemetery No.1, Beaumont-Hamel (Grave B. 34). He was 27 years old.
The Spring 1917 edition of Chronicles included the following account of Thomas’s military career along with a letter from his officer;
‘Thomas Harrold Philpot joined a famous Battalion of the Royal Fusiliers in March 1916. He spent a fortnight at Oxford, and then proceeded to Edinburgh for training. In July he was sent to France, and in October was placed in a Lewis Gun Section. He took part in the advance on the Ancre, and was killed in action on November 13th.
Lieutenant F. A. Charlier writes as follows:-
“It is with great regret that I have to inform you of the death of your son, Pte. T. H. Philpot, who was killed in action on the 13th inst.
As his officer I cannot speak too highly of him, and his death has been a great blow to me and to the whole Battalion.
He was killed while gallantly carrying out his duty during our advance in the recent operations north of the Ancre. I have always considered him one of my best men, and his work will never be forgotten.”
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.