Orders, Decorations and Medals

Three: Constable S. W. Phipps, ‘V’ Division (Crystal Palace) Metropolitan Police, late Gordon Highlanders

Coronation 1902, Metropolitan Police (P.C., V. Div.); Coronation 1911, Metropolitan Police (P.C.); Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 2 clasps, Cape Colony, Paardeberg (3023 Pte., Gordon Highrs.) mounted as worn; together with a Metropolitan Police Shooting League Medal, 45mm., silver, reverse inscribed, ‘Presented to P.C. Phipps V. Divsn. Crystal Palace July 13th 1911 for services rendered to The Police League’, in Mappin & Webb, London case of issue, this last extremely fine; others some contact marks, very fine (4) £200-250

Sydney Watson Phipps, the son of Mr H J. Phipps (who resided at 25 Fish Street Hill, London E.C.) was a native of the Parish of St. Magnus, London, England, where he was born circa 1870. He enlisted for the British Army at Belfast, Ireland, on 7 August 1888. At the time of his enlistment he declared his ‘Trade’ as being that of a ‘Clerk’. During his initial 7 years service with ‘The Colours’ he was mostly employed as a ‘Bandsman’ while serving with 2nd Battalion Gordon Highlanders. In total Arthur served 13 years with the British Army – including 5 years on the Army Reserve from which he was re-called and mobilized for overseas service with 1st Battalion Gordon Highlanders during the South African War. The recipient entitlement to the QSA medal and both clasps is verified in the respective campaign medal roll of the 1st Battalion Gordon Highlanders (ref WO 100/203) signed and dated at Pretoria, South Africa, on 23 August 1901, wherein under the remarks column it shows that Private Phipps had been ‘Invalided’ (to England) prior to the medal roll being compiled.

The 1911 National Census for England and Wales records Police Constable Phipps residing together with his wife and daughter, at 75 Mexfield Road, Wandsworth, London. Sydney Watson Phipps, of 19 Riverview Road, Chiswick, London, is recorded as having died in London on 11 July 1953. With copied notes.