William Phillips

Story:
William Phillips was born in West Dean, Sussex on 3 Jul 1877 and baptised there on 2 Sep 1877 the son of John Phillips and Olive Phillips (nee Oliver).  He had lived his early life in West Dean but by 1901 was living at The Bothy, Slaugham, Cuckfield, Sussex, working as a gardener.  By 1911 he had moved and was living at The Bothy, Iwerne Minster, Dorset, also working as a Gardener at Iwerne Minster House.  He had enlisted and joined the Devonshire Regiment as a Private (Service No. 52610) and later transferred to the Labour Corps (Service No. 99956).  It is not known in which theatre of was he served but on his discharge was awarded the Victory and British War Medals.  His name appeared on the Absent Voters Lists for 1918 and 1919 as still residing at Iwerne Minster.  The 1921 Census shows him living at The Bothey, Iwerne Minster, with his wife, Elizabeth, though no record of the marriage has been found. The 1939 Register shows he had moved to Hairfield Gardens, Romsey, Hampshire, where he was now the Head Gardener. His death as recorded in Winchester, Hmapshire, during 1957.