Gunner Edward John Phillips 135th (Hertfordshire Yeomanry) Field Regiment Royal Artillery
The Man Edward John Phillips was born in Wellington, Somerset on Thursday 15th July 1909 son of Herbert, a Bricklayer and Edith Florence nee Cosby and had two brothers, Ernest born in 1904 (later becoming Charles Ernest) and Herbert 1908. The family lived at 4 Follet Close, Wellington.
Edward was baptised on 27th August 1909 and the 1911 Census shows the family living at 20 Burgage, Wellington. Following his education Edward became an Atomiser at a milk drying plant.
By 1939 aged 30, Edward was still living with his parents, now at 7 Brendon Road, Wellington, Somerset, his brothers had left home.
Following the start of World War II Edward enlisted into the 135th Hertfordshire Yeomanry,
a Territorial regiment of the Royal Artillery, based in East Anglia and part of the 18th division. He attested in 1940 as a Gunner with service number 1085302.
The 135th were on home service and East Coast defences from 1939 to 1941 when they undertook mobile training preparatory to overseas service.
18th Division sailed on 31 October 1941 bound for Basra as reinforcements for Middle East Forces, but while it was at sea news arrived of the Japanese attacks on Pearl Harbour and Malaya in December 1941. The convoy was diverted to India, but the troopship carrying 53rd Brigade and personnel of 135th Field Regiment was sent straight to Singapore. Here they fought with whatever guns were available until their own 25-pounders arrived.
They advanced into Malaya and performed well, before retreating back into Singapore, where again they served well in their counter-battery work. The 135th took part in the final stages of the disastrous Malayan campaign and the defence of Fortress Singapore. It was captured at the Fall of Singapore on 15th February having destroyed their 25 pounders before being taken into captivity. Edward became a Prisoner of War of the Japanese, number 306098.
The men were held at Changi before being sent to Thailand, specifically to Tha Maa Kham (known as Tamarkan) in Thailand where they built the Mae Klong viaduct under Lieutenant Colonel Philip Toosey, the commander of 135th (East Anglian) (Hertfordshire Yeomanry) Field Regiment. This becoming the inspiration for the legendary film "The Bridge Over the River Kwai" with the Toosey character being played by Alec Guinness.
The conditions were appalling, brutal treatment by the guards, malnutrition and disease was rife in the camps. Sadly Edward succumbed and died of dysentery on the 20th June 1943 at Tamarkan aged 33. His body was re-buried in 1946 and finally laid to rest at the Kanchanburi War Cemetery, Thailand, plot 2.H. 43.
As Edward had not been married, his effects, including his posthumously awarded medals, the 1939-45 Star, Pacific Star and War Medal 1939-45 passed to his executor, brother Charles, who was living at 228 Rockwell Green, Wellington.
Edward was baptised on 27th August 1909 and the 1911 Census shows the family living at 20 Burgage, Wellington. Following his education Edward became an Atomiser at a milk drying plant.
By 1939 aged 30, Edward was still living with his parents, now at 7 Brendon Road, Wellington, Somerset, his brothers had left home.
Following the start of World War II Edward enlisted into the 135th Hertfordshire Yeomanry,
a Territorial regiment of the Royal Artillery, based in East Anglia and part of the 18th division. He attested in 1940 as a Gunner with service number 1085302.
The 135th were on home service and East Coast defences from 1939 to 1941 when they undertook mobile training preparatory to overseas service.
18th Division sailed on 31 October 1941 bound for Basra as reinforcements for Middle East Forces, but while it was at sea news arrived of the Japanese attacks on Pearl Harbour and Malaya in December 1941. The convoy was diverted to India, but the troopship carrying 53rd Brigade and personnel of 135th Field Regiment was sent straight to Singapore. Here they fought with whatever guns were available until their own 25-pounders arrived.
They advanced into Malaya and performed well, before retreating back into Singapore, where again they served well in their counter-battery work. The 135th took part in the final stages of the disastrous Malayan campaign and the defence of Fortress Singapore. It was captured at the Fall of Singapore on 15th February having destroyed their 25 pounders before being taken into captivity. Edward became a Prisoner of War of the Japanese, number 306098.
The men were held at Changi before being sent to Thailand, specifically to Tha Maa Kham (known as Tamarkan) in Thailand where they built the Mae Klong viaduct under Lieutenant Colonel Philip Toosey, the commander of 135th (East Anglian) (Hertfordshire Yeomanry) Field Regiment. This becoming the inspiration for the legendary film "The Bridge Over the River Kwai" with the Toosey character being played by Alec Guinness.
The conditions were appalling, brutal treatment by the guards, malnutrition and disease was rife in the camps. Sadly Edward succumbed and died of dysentery on the 20th June 1943 at Tamarkan aged 33. His body was re-buried in 1946 and finally laid to rest at the Kanchanburi War Cemetery, Thailand, plot 2.H. 43.
As Edward had not been married, his effects, including his posthumously awarded medals, the 1939-45 Star, Pacific Star and War Medal 1939-45 passed to his executor, brother Charles, who was living at 228 Rockwell Green, Wellington.
The Story The medal group awarded to Edward John Phillips from E-Bay on 26th June 2022 and of interest because it was another group to a soldier who died and was buried whilst working on the Burma Railway and buried in Kanchanaburi, Thailand. The fifth such group in this collection and a rapidly emerging sub-theme.
It was also good to have the medals come in their box of issue and the named condolence medal award slip.
The usual research on Ancestry.UK enabled a biography to be pieced together and a visit to his grave was made at Kanchanaburi Commonwealth War Grave Cemetery on 8th July 2022 where a poppy was placed.
One always muses when visiting the graves in Kanchanburi for the first time since medal acquisition, whether it is in fact the first time a grave has been visited specifically to remember the individual person. It is also poignant from a personal perspective that the medals were acquired whilst actually in Thailand!
It was also good to have the medals come in their box of issue and the named condolence medal award slip.
The usual research on Ancestry.UK enabled a biography to be pieced together and a visit to his grave was made at Kanchanaburi Commonwealth War Grave Cemetery on 8th July 2022 where a poppy was placed.
One always muses when visiting the graves in Kanchanburi for the first time since medal acquisition, whether it is in fact the first time a grave has been visited specifically to remember the individual person. It is also poignant from a personal perspective that the medals were acquired whilst actually in Thailand!
Edward John Phillips' Medal award box (addressed to his brother) and medal award certificate.
Kanchanburi Commonwealth War Graves Cemetery, Thailand. 8th July 2022.
Edward John PHILLIPS is one of 16 soldiers in this collection who perished whilst working on the Burma Railaway and whose final resting place is Kanchanaburi or Chungkai Commonwealth War Cemeteries in Thailand or Thanbyuzayat in Myanmar. May their souls rest in eternal peace. Click on each name to read about:
Medal Details:
- 1939-45 Star: Unnamed as awarded.
- Pacific Star: Unnamed as awarded.
- War Medal 1939-45: Unnamed as awarded.
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This page last updated 23 Sep 22
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