The Queens Own Royal West Kent R

The Queens Own Royal West Kent Regiment

Captain W C O Phillips

Photograph by "Belgianwaffle"

Captain William Charles Owen PHILLIPS, 2nd in Command, "B" Company, 1st Battalion, Queens Own Royal West Kent Regiment, killed in action, at Landrecies, Nord, Nord-Pas-de-Calais, France, on the retreat from Mons, 24th August 1914, age 31.

25th December 1882, born Shooters Hill, Kent.

1909, December, Aylesbury Registration District, William Charles Owen Phillips, married Edith Sanders Hickson, daughter of Samuel Alfred Einem & Annie Sargent Hickson, (nee Sanders), Hartwell Rectory, Buckinghamshire.

Joined Militia before entering Army; 1904, became Lieutenant; 1911-1912, Adjutant in Territorial Force, 2nd in Command "B" Company, 1st Battalion, Royal West Kent Regiment; 1913 March, became Captain; 15th August 1914, posted BEF; 22nd August 1914, Mons; 23rd August 1914, Germans attacked but position held; 24th August 1914, retreat from Mons began, when Captain Phillips was killed. The Battalion was ordered to withdraw from a defensive line on the canal during the night of 23rd August and to demolish a number of bridges and canal locks. The Germans attacked the following morning. Captain Phillips two other officers and 35 men were killed. The Germans thought the village of St. Ghislain had been evacuated and suffered very heavy casualties. The line held allowing the whole Division to be successfully withdrawn.

3rd November 1914, Probate - William Charles Owen Phillips, of Castle Housde, Shooters Hill, Kent died on 23rd & 24 August 1914, at Landrecies, France. Administration London 3rd November to Edith Sanders Phillips, widow. Effects £52 2s 6d.

Buried at Hautrage Military Cemetery, I. D. 16., Belgium.

Stone, Dinton & Hartwell Parish News.

This page was last updated on 24-Apr-2026.