A Seaworthy Soldier
Major Peter Alexander Nowell Philip MBE TD* AMINA Royal Engineers
The Man Peter Alexander Nowell Philip was born on 30th January 1915 in Dartmouth, Devon, his Mother’s maiden was Watson. He attended Ravenswood Preparatory School in Paignton and later Bromsgrove School where he attained a School Certificate in 1932 and enlisted into the Junior Division of the Officer Training Corps. Following school in 1934 aged 19, he was apprenticed to work with Messrs Phillips & Son Ltd, a company of Shipbuilders and Engineers in Devon. He worked as a Ship’s Draughtsman completing his apprenticeship on all types of wood, steel and composite craft. He then became Assistant Works Manager in the Yacht Building Yard working on the design and construction of the non-magnetic Royal Research Ship “RESEARCH” for the Admiralty and graduating as a student from the Institute of Naval Architects to become an Associate Member – AMINA. On 2nd October 1935 Peter joined and was Commissioned as 2nd Lieutenant into D Company the 5th Battalion (Prince of Wales) Battalion the Devonshire Infantry Regiment, Territorial Army and was promoted to Lieutenant on the same date in 1938. During the third quarter of 1939 he married Marjorie Elaine Seale in Newton Abbott, and on the outbreak of World War II on 3rd September was embodied and given service number 65946. Peter served at home at the start of the war and in July 1941 was temporarily released from the Army for service with the Director of Naval Construction at the Admiralty in Bath. He worked in the Director of Contract Work Office as a Progress Officer for the construction of the 105 ft Motor Minesweepers. He returned to Army service in September 1942 and on 14th September 1943 was transferred from the Devons to the Royal Engineers, Transportation Section. In October the same year he was seconded to the War Office and became responsible for the construction of UNICRAFT diesel tugs and barges, based at Messrs Brooke Marine in Culton Road, Lowestoft. In December he moved to Southampton and in preparation for D-Day the following June, was employed on the RHINO ferry which was to be used for amphibious operations during Operation Overlord. During this time he worked closely with counterparts from the United States. On 6th June 1944 he was posted to the British Land Army as Officer Commanding the 927 Inland Water Transport, Light Aid Workshop Company, with direct responsibility to Army Group HQ for repairs and maintenance of War Department craft in action. He saw service in North West Europe and following VE Day served in the British Army on the Rhine, responsible for the reinstatement of five Dutch Shipyards on the Rhine, and the return of Dutch machinery and yard plant removed to Germany during the occupation. He was promoted to war Substantive Captain, then full Captain on 11th April 1945 and at the end of the War awarded the 1939-45 Star, France & Germany Star, Defence Medal and War Medal 1939-45. Peter was offered employment in the Army with the Control Commission, but as this meant signing on for a further three years he declined and was released from the Army in late 1945. He was promoted to Temporary Major, and in the London Gazette of 24th January 1946 appointed a Member of the Military Division of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire for gallant and distinguished services in North West Europe. Following his release from the Army he joined a local firm of ship and boat builders as Works Superintendent and lived with his wife at ‘Travancore’ 6 Windsor Road, Lower Parkstone, Dorset. In 1947 he moved companies and became Works Manager for their newly formed barge yard in Dartford earning £600.00 per annum and responsible for purchasing plant, general engineering and contracting for the manufacture of fuel and water tanks, coal hoppers, earth moving equipment and general staff employment. As a result of his new job he moved to Kent during April 1947 living at Coombeleigh, Leesons, Chiselhurst and shortly after 57 Park Road in Dartford and finally
2 Edith Villas, Hillcrest Road, Crayford. He also toyed with the idea of re-enlisting into the newly re-constituted TA at this time, but it appears he did not. During his career Peter became experienced in the application of electric arc welding in repair work to craft and prefabrication of components, design and construction of reinforced concrete components and was authorised to survey all types of small and medium sized craft. He also spoke French. In February 1947 he was awarded the Efficiency Medal ‘Territorial’, followed in April 1950 by the Efficiency Decoration and clasp, his Efficiency Medal subsequently being cancelled due to the award of the TD. He was transferred to the Territorial Army Reserve of Officers and released on 30th January 1965 aged 50 having reached the age limit. No detail is known of Peter’s later life except that he died during the final quarter of 1986 aged 71 in Cornwall. Marjorie outlived him and died in 1992.
2 Edith Villas, Hillcrest Road, Crayford. He also toyed with the idea of re-enlisting into the newly re-constituted TA at this time, but it appears he did not. During his career Peter became experienced in the application of electric arc welding in repair work to craft and prefabrication of components, design and construction of reinforced concrete components and was authorised to survey all types of small and medium sized craft. He also spoke French. In February 1947 he was awarded the Efficiency Medal ‘Territorial’, followed in April 1950 by the Efficiency Decoration and clasp, his Efficiency Medal subsequently being cancelled due to the award of the TD. He was transferred to the Territorial Army Reserve of Officers and released on 30th January 1965 aged 50 having reached the age limit. No detail is known of Peter’s later life except that he died during the final quarter of 1986 aged 71 in Cornwall. Marjorie outlived him and died in 1992.
The Story The group of medals awarded to Peter Alexander Nowell Philip were acquired from E-Bay on 27th November 2016. They were of interest because of the Member of the British Empire and Efficiency Decoration with clasp combination, together with the engraved ash tray and the amount of paperwork with the group, including his own typed CV. Oddly and despite his three first names, little detail was found on Ancestry.UK, and even then there were different letters used in his initials P A M and P A A Philip! However from the paperwork and his CV it has been possible to build up an extensive biography of his life through to the late 1940s. Nothing further could be found and it would be interesting to know what happened to him in later life.
Medal Details:
- Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (Military): Unnamed as awarded.
- 1939-45 Star: Unnamed as awarded.
- France & Germany Star: Unnamed as awarded.
- Defence Medal: Unnamed as awarded.
- War Medal 1939-45: Unnamed as awarded.
- Efficiency Decoration & Clasp: 1950 & 1950.
This page last updated 3 Jan 17