A fine Great War M.C. group of three awarded to Sub-Lieutenant F. J. Philp, R.N.V.R., Drake Battalion, Royal Naval Division

Military Cross, G.V.R.; British War and Victory Medals (S.Lt. F. J. Philp, R.N.V.R.) extremely fine (3) £1000-1200

M.C. London Gazette 26 July 1918: ‘For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. At night time, when an enemy patrol had got into a village, he displayed great courage and initiative in getting together his headquarters' signallers, runners and batmen, and dispersing the patrol. Afterwards he collected all available headquarters' details and formed control posts at the entrance and exit of the village, thus denying the village to the enemy until a defensive flank had been made. Throughout the whole operation his dogged his dogged tenacity and cheerfulness greatly assisted to maintain the moral of those around him.’

Frederick John Philp was born on 12 October 1893, and was working as a lighterman in London, when he joined the London Division of the R.N.V.R. nn 1 January 1915. He initially joined the ill-fated Benbow Battalion but was then transferred to the Drake Battalion. His service papers show him serving ashore in Gallipoli, promoted to A.B. H.G., and in September 1915 sick in hospital at Mudros. He rejoined his battalion in October, and in May 1916 moved from Imbros to Mudros, embarked on board the H.T. Minominee and disembarked at Marseilles on the 7th of June. He was immediately transferred to the 2nd Hood Battalion, and then posted to Signal School.

In July 1916 Philp transferred to the 1st Hood Battalion, and joined this unit in France. The next month he was transferred again to the Drake Battalion, and to the 189th Brigade Signal Office. That December he was promoted to Leading Seaman, and in January 1917 selected as a candidate for a commission. Posted to the R.N. Division Cadets he joined No. 6 Officer Candidate Battalion at Balliol College, Oxford. Philp was commissioned as a Temporary Sub-Lieutenant, R.N.V.R. with seniority of 27 June 1917. He joined the 2nd Reserve Battalion at Blandford, attended a Signalling Course at Dunstable, and qualified as an Instructor of Signalling, before re-joining the Drake Battalion in France, via Calais, in January 1918.

Sub-Lieutenant Philp would have been in action almost immediately, in the operations on the Ancre including Miraumont and other local attacks, and on the 5th of May Divisional Routine Orders announced that he had been awarded the Military Cross. Meanwhile, in June, he had been slightly wounded and treated at a Field Ambulance, returning to his unit the next day. But on the 21st of August he was severely wounded. His battalion HQ received an urgent message the next day that he was in hospital and “Dangerously Ill”. Only a day later this was amended to “Died of Wounds” and eventually confirmed “Died of Wounds received in action, at No.3 Casualty Clearing Station Officers Hospital, 22.8.18, G.S.W. Buttocks.”

Sub-Lieutenant Frederick John Philp was buried in Bagneux British Cemetery, near Gezaincourt, France.