Enmore Green, The Knapp

Albert Charles Phillips

Surname: Phillips
Other names: Albert Charles
Other people in this story:
Edward Phillips
Edith Phillips née White
Ellen Phillips née Gumbleton
James Phillips
Frank Phillips
Frederick William Phillips
Locations in this story:
Brickhill, Enmore Green, Shaftesbury, Dorset
Shaftesbury, Dorset
France & Flanders
Penybont Road, Abertillery, Monmouthshire, Wales
Bedwelty, Monmouthshire, Wales
Holy Trinity Church, Shaftesbury
Brecon Military Hospital

Story:
Albert Charles Phillips was born in Enmore Green, Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 28th December 1877 and baptised there on 17th February 1878, the son of Edward Phillips and Edith Phillips (née White).  He spent his early life in the family home at Brickhill (now Church Hill), Enmore Green, Shaftesbury.  He had enlisted with the 1st/3rd Battalion of the Dorsetshire Regiment and had served for sixteen years before the end of his first engagement.  He married Ellen Gumbleton at Holy Trinity Church, Shaftesbury, on 18th July 1906 and they went on to have three children. 

By 1911 Albert had moved to Abertillery, Monmouthshire, Wales, in order to work in the mining industry.  He re-enlisted on 15th July 1914 and was mobilized on 8th Aug 1914 joining the South Wales Borderers (Special Reserve) as a Sergeant (Service No. 3/11615).  He served in France and Flanders from 15 Mar 1916 with the 1st and 3rd Battalions and was gassed on 18th May 1916 and wounded on 8th Sep 1916.  This involved hospital treatment at the Brecon Military Hospital where he was diagnosed with hysteria and duly declared unfit for further service and discharged on 28th August 1917.  He was awarded the Silver War Badge No. 225758 as well as small pension and was later awarded the Victory and British War medals plus receiving the King's Certificate No. 1613.  Both the 1921 Census and 1939 Register show him living at 24 Weavers Buildings, 63 Penybont Road, Abertillery, Monmouthshire, Wales, and described as a Colliery Timberman (below ground).  His death was recorded in the Bedwelty, Monmouthshire, District Registry in 1940.

Three of Albert's brothers served in the First World War: Frank (b.1885) with the Wiltshire Regiment and the Royal Field Artillery; Frederick William (b.1875) with the Dorchester Regiment. The youngest, James (b.1886) was killed while serving with the Wiltshire Regiment in France on 21st October 1914.

Images:

Links to related web content / sources:
The National Archives
James Phillips
Frank Phillips
Frederick William Phillips