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The LNLR presumably before they departed for South Africa



Source; ILN 11 November 1899

Picture courtesy of Noonan's

QSA (2) Cape Colony, Orange Free State (2490 Pte. D. Whittingham, I: L.N. Lanc: Regt.)

Also entitled to the South Africa 1901 clasp.

Service papers extant. David Whittington. Born 1870 in Preston, Lancashire, England

Picture courtesy of Spink

DSO GV, s/g;
MC GV;
QSA (5) Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Transvaal, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902 (Lieut. N. C. Phillips. L. N. Lanc: Regt:);
1914-15 Star (Capt. N. C. Phillips. L. N. Lancs. R.);
BWM and VM with MID (Lt. Col. N. C. Phillips.)

Provenance: Spink Medal Circular, April 1996.

DSO London Gazette 4 June 1917.

MC London Gazette 3 June 1916.

Noel Clive Phillips was born in 30 July 1883 in Monmouthshire, the son of Philip and Anna Phillips of Berechurch Hall, Essex. His father was a tin-plate manufacturer with a further connection to coal mining and the young Phillips grew up as part of a large household with six siblings, being educated at Marlborough College. Here he excelled both in the classroom and on the sports field, notably becoming Captain of the Rugby XV with an extract from The Marlburian, December 1900, stating:

'N.C. Philips - As Captain he has possessed the invaluable gift of inspiring his team with confidence, and to this to [SIC] a large extent the success of the side has been due. He is a really good centre three-quarters, who thoroughly understands the game; he is fairly fast and an excellent kick. As Captain and player he has done exceedingly well.'

Notably one of his last acts before leaving for action in the Boer War was to open for Monmouthshire in a game of cricket against Wiltshire, in 1901.

The Boer War and Burma

Commissioned into the 3rd (Militia) Battalion, Loyal North Lancashire Regiment as 2nd Lieutenant on 24 August 1901, he was embodied for service the same day. In this role Phillips joined the Second-Anglo Boer War in South Africa in November 1901, serving at first with his battalion before being later seconded for work with the Army Service Corps: leaving South Africa in 1903 his service was rewarded with advancement as he was promoted Lieutenant on 8 June that year. Despite this Phillips clearly felt that his career prospects lay elsewhere and he resigned his commission with the Militia on 15 October 1904, soon after joining the Bombay-Burma Trading Corporation.

First Class Cricketer

Despite the distances involved in returning home, Phillips was able to indulge his passion for cricket several more times in the years before the Great War. His debut for first-class cricket was made in 1908 with the MCC against Cambridge University; he was to play for them again later that year, this time against Oxford University. After a break of four years he returned to first-class cricket to play two games in 1912 for the Free Foresters, scoring a half-century in one. His final game before the war was with the South Wales cricket team - which existed for only one game - against the touring South African team at Swansea.

The Battle of Loos

With the outbreak of the Great War Phillips felt compelled to return to the Colours, applying to join the Special Reserve on 15 December 1914. He was swiftly re-appointed to a Commission with the rank of Lieutenant with the 3rd Battalion, Loyal North Lancashire Regiment. With high losses in France and Phillips' experience going to waste in Britain, he was further advanced Captain on 13 February 1915 and joined the 1st Battalion in France on 17 July 1915, on the eve of the Battle of Loos.

Arriving in France Phillips took up command of 'B' Company, 1st Battalion which was at the time part of the 1st Division stationed near La Bassee. He did not have long to acclimatise to command before he was thrown into action at the Battle of Loos on 24 September 1915. The Battalion would form part of the first wave in IV Corps's assault of the right of the German line, anchored on the village of Grenay. The attack was to be preceded by gas - however when it was released it blew back into the British line causing havoc. Despite this they advanced to find the barbed wire uncut by the bombardment and the enemy ready: forced to fall back and regroup Lieutenant-Colonel Sanderson bravely led the battalion back out to the attack.

They made several attempts on the line that day with the bodies of officers and men being discovered right up to the German wire. However no breakthrough was made; the C.O. and adjutant were both wounded in the first attack and over the course of the day the majority of the officers also fell. In the end the battalion could muster no more than three officers and 159 other ranks: Phillips had been seriously gassed in the initial advance but despite this he came up to the line and took command of what remained of the battalion. On the morning of the 26th, having remained in the line all night, he led the survivors to the rear with their relief being members of the 11th Division.

The Somme

Likely for his actions in taking command that day Phillips was awarded the MC, and promoted Major on 3 April 1916. He assumed the appointment of Second-in-Command of the newly-reconstituted battalion, one of only a small number who remained of the men who had fought so doggedly at Loos. The battalion was to be heavily engaged from mid-July, starting with an attack at Becourt Wood; throughout the fighting Phillips was present and his accounts give us some insight into the confused nature of combat on the Somme, one report for 18 August 1918 stating:

‘In conjunction with attacks by the French and ourselves from Thiepval to the Somme, the Battalion attacked the German line from the right of the 1st Northamptonshire to the north-west corner of High Wood, and also a trench running along its western edge. At zero time - 2.45pm - the right platoon, which was detailed to attack the trench and to form a strong point at the north-west corner of High Wood, left its trenches and was seen to advance into our own bombardment, which was not timed to lift until later. The remainder appear to have followed too quickly and suffered a similar fate, though up to the present no survivors have been found to give any reliable account.

The left platoon delayed its assault until about 3.20pm and, advancing close under our barrage, entered the German trench without difficulty, assisted by the Northamptonshires on our left. By the time the third line got in only one officer had not become a casualty; he, realising that on the right the trench was unoccupied, extended his men down the trench to within 200 yards of High Wood and commenced to consolidate the position. A further advance was made later, and our right now rests within 120 yards of the north-west corner of High Wood.’

Passchendaele, the Hindenburg Line and a Sick Bed

At this stage Phillips was again commanding the battalion and he was confirmed in that appointment on 27 September 1916, being promoted Lieutenant-Colonel while he commanded the unit. Under his command the unit saw out the rest of the Battle of the Somme, finding themselves at No. 5 Rest Camp, Mametz Wood come Christmas. Phillips received a 'mention' on 4 January 1917 followed closely by another on 25 May 1917, the month before his award of the DSO.

He continued to command his men through the vicious fighting at Passchendaele and during the German retreat to the Hindenburg Line. However he was ordered to England in July 1918, with a note from his Divisional Commander entered into the War Diary Stating:

'Lt Col N C Phillips DSO, MC, served under me for 2 years, part of the time in Comd of a Battn. Under him the Battn did excellent work in the fighting in 1916 & 17. He commanded his Battn with much energy, tact and ability and I regret losing his services owing to illness'

This illness appears to have caused him a great deal of trouble for some time, as he only reappeared on 22 September 1918 when he was posted to command a battalion of the Training Reserve. It was with this unit that Phillips saw out the rest of the war, perhaps a somewhat frustrating situation given the amount of time he had commanded the 1st Battalion.

Postwar

Phillips requested a transfer to the Reserve of Officers in 1919, stating his desire to return to work in the Far East. He resigned entirely the next year, having gone to work in Rangoon and soon became Manager of the Bombay Burma Trading Company. Returning to Britain, he did play one more game of first-class cricket - this time with the Free Foresters against Oxford University in 1921, as well as a slew of games for minor counties cricket with Monmouthshire.

Phillips was elected High Sheriff of Radnorshire and later Deputy Lieutenant, and was founder and Chairman of the local British Legion and head of the Young Farmer's Association. Two of Phillips' brothers went on to join him as first-class cricketers, those being Frank and Gerald Phillips. He died on 15 August 1961 at Colwell, Herefordshire; sold together with an original Officer's Record of Services containing some original correspondence along with copied research comprising a photograph, application for the Special Reserve and M.I.C. together with medal rolls, correspondence both to the recipient and regarding him, as well as extracts from the Battalion War Diary, The Marlburian, the Malvern Gazette, the London Gazette and The Loyal North Lancashire Regiment.

Picture courtesy of Spink

QSA (3) Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Transvaal (2775 Pte H. Bridges, 1st L.N.Lanc: Regt);
KSA (2) (2775 Pte H. Bridges. L.N.Lanc: Regt.)

Harry Bridges was born at Leckhampton, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire in June 1865, the son of Lucy Bridges of Bourton, Gloucestershire. Apprenticed to the Cheltenham Gasworks in his youth he attested for the Loyal North Lancashire Regiment at Bristol on 18 June 1889. Having seen home service for the better part of a year Bridges was posted to India with 1st Battalion on 21 February 1890. He was to serve there for the next six years before transferring to Ceylon for another year, finally returning home on 12 January 1897.

Posted to the Army Reserve on 31 January 1897 Bridges was to re-join the colours only the next year on 10 April 1898. Posted to South Africa on 5 October 1899, presumably as part of a draft of reinforcements for the 1st Battalion already serving in Natal. Bridges was to miss the trails of the Siege of Kimberly. He appears not to have been present with the other half Battalion with Lord Methuen's Brigade which saw action at the Modder River in November. Likely stationed in Cape Colony during the active phase of the war he certainly join the Battalion for the guerrilla stage.

Bridges conduct during the war appears not to have impressed his superiors and he was imprisoned for a month between April-May 1900 as a result of 'conduct to the prejudice of Good order'. Despite this he remained in South Africa until 10 June 1902, returning to Britain he was soon discharged on 17 June. Bridges listed his mother's home, Belle House, Leckenham as his intended residence. He appears to have moved to Pontypridd, Wales where he worked in the mining industry, he died there in the spring of 1938

There is an intriguing lot in the next Noble Numismatics sale, described as:

Singles: Queen's South Africa Medal 1899 (3, type 2 reverse, type 3 reverse [2]), no suspenders or clasps. 4848 Pt J.Ogg. 2nd Btn. SG on first, Capt. H.A.P. Soppitt, L.N.Lancs. Regt on second, last medal with name erased. The named medals engraved. Three single medals, very good - nearly very fine.

No images of these items.

Captain H A P Soppitt is on the LNLR roll, WO100/192p436, for the clasp CC. His medal would be engraved.

Picture courtesy of Noonan's

QSA (2) Cape Colony, Orange Free State (4955 Pte. E. Guy 1: L.N. Lanc: Regt. M.I.);
KSA (2) (4955 Pte. E. Guy. L.N. Lanc: Regt.)

Noonan's say that E Guy appears on the Queen’s South Africa Medal roll for No. 1 Malta Company, 9th Battalion, Mounted Infantry.