Orders, Decorations and Medals

A first and second World War group of ten to Mr. Eric Phillips, late Civil Service Rifles and War Correspondent for The Times

1914-15 STAR TRIO (1181 Pte., 15-Lond.R.); 1939-45 STAR; FRANCE AND GERMANY STAR; DEFENCE AND WAR MEDALS, these last four privately named; TERRITORIAL EFFICIENCY MEDAL, G.V.R. (Pte., 15-London.R.); EFFICIENCY MEDAL, bar 'Territorial', G.V.R. (2563682 Sjt., R. Signals); Belgium, ORDER OF LEOPOLD II, 5th class breast badge in silver and enamel, the group mounted for wear, generally very fine (10)

Eric Edward Phillips was born in London on August 28th, 1892, and was educated at a London County Council elementary school and at Clarks College. He first became associated with The Times in 1913 as an outside contributor. It was not until May, 1921, that he joined the staff and a great deal had happened to him in the meantime. An enthusiastic Territorial, he was embodied in the First Civil Service Rifles at the outbreak of war in August, 1914. He was severely wounded at Festubert in the following year and became a drill instructor under the Army educational scheme before being demobilized in March 1919. His enthusiasm for the Territorial Army remained and he was again embodied on September 1st, 1939, in the 1st Middlesex Yeomanry (Royal Signals). He served as sergeant instructor in drill, musketry and anti-gas until he was given a commission in the Buffs in July, 1940. A few months later, with the rank of captain, he was appointed a conducting officer in the Army Public Relations Service. He held the job until November, 1943, when he was released at the request of The Times to act as its war correspondent with the Home Forces until June 1944. Thereafter he reported the activities of the 21 Army Group and the Second Army in North Western Europe until he was injured in a motor accident in Germany in May, 1945. His return to duty in the reporters' room was warmly welcomed. In 1946 he was appointed night news editor and in his free time reported a number of military functions. Later he was relieved of his night work in order to devote himself exclusively to military affairs and as the military reporter of The Times he became a familiar figure at military exercises. His connection with Army matters lasted late in life, for after his retirement from The Times in 1957 he took up a temporary post in the press department of the War Office and held it until 1960 He died in London at the age of 70, on 6th September, 1962.