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Richard Frederick Phillips and Brother-in-law's Service

online resource
posted on 2024-06-05, 19:46 authored by Their Finest Hour Project Team

Richard Frederick Phillips Sargeant Royal Fusiliers was born in St Johns Woking on 6th Jan 1911. He was a regular soldier and joined as a drummer boy in the Coldstream Guards. There is a picture of him serving as a drummer boy. He left the Guards in 1938 and became a postman. After the outbreak of WWII, he was called up as a reservist in 1939 and served in Tangmere.

He served in the 1st Battalion and eventually went to Italy and fought for 6 weeks. He was killed by a shell from a self-propelled gun on 26 June 44 and was buried in Assisi at St Francis Chapel. His brother-in-law, an 18 year old was also killed in September of the same year and he was a member of the 66 Recon Regiment of the RA Dorset Regiment. He was buried in Arnhem.

History

Item list and details

1. Dad's glasses and case. 2. Dad's crucifix. 3. Dad's petrol lighter. 4. Dad in the Band as detailed in the image. First army service before the war. 5. Postcard image of Dad at 15. 6. Documents from Dad's service including service certificates, telegrams from King and notice of death and death certificate.

Person the story/items relate to

Richard Frederick Phillips

Person who shared the story/items

Anon

Relationship between the subject of the story and its contributor

Father

Type of submission

Shared at West Meads Community Hall, West Sussex on 11 November 2023. The event was organised by Bognor Regis u3a.

Record ID

106116 | BOG039