Pauline Priano has submitted the following:-
William Harland Phillipson, was the youngest of 5 children, son of Mary Jane Phillipson, born at Allendale, Northumberland the only daughter of Henry Phillipson and Ann Hall who were married in the district of Hexham in 1849.
Mary Jane, listed as unmarried, was living in 1881 with her widowed brother, George William Phillipson, an iron ore miner, at Ropehaugh Cottages, Allendale, who had taken her in along with her children, Robert Henry (5) born Allendale in 1875, as was Mary Ann (2) in 1879 and Alfred (11-months), born May 11th 1880 at Crook, County Durham. Between 1881 and 1889 she had moved her family, with the addition of Ralph born at Crook in 1881, to Castleside, although he was not raised by her or any known member of her family. Her youngest son, William Harland Phillipson was born in 1889. In the census of 1891, listed as single, Mary Jane was working as a house charwoman, her only other means of support was Robert (16) employed as a labourer at the colliery. Mary Ann (12) remained at home with her mother as did William (11 months), Alfred (10) was a scholar. Ten years later, now listed as a widow, she was the housekeeper of a lodging house, Ralph (20) had returned to the family home, employed as a crane-man, Mary Ann (22) remained at home and although of school age William Harland (11) is not listed as a scholar. By 1911 the family occupied 2 rooms at Castleside. Her son Robert Henry had moved back into the family home, after the death of his wife, Margaret Ann Siddle nee Lodge, in 1904, aged 42 years, whom he had married in the district of Lanchester in 1901, widow of Jonathan Siddle of Chester-le-Street, mother of 5 children and 9 years his senior. He (35) and William (21) supported their mother (60) and sister (33), employed by Consett Iron and Steel Company as a steel worker and at the coke ovens respectively.
Upon the outbreak of war he enlisted at Consett as Harland Phillipson, assigned to the 10th Royal Hussars (Prince of Wales Own) Household Cavalry and Cavalry of the Line. The 10th was based at Potchefstroom in South Africa when war was declared with Germany and returned to the U.K. before the first wave of men landed at Ostend with the 6th Cavalry Brigade, 3rd Cavalry Division in October 1914. Private Phillipson was not amongst them, and whilst still in England, undergoing training in 1915, the tragic news arrived that his brother Private 1686 Alfred Phillipson serving with the Canadian Forces had been killed in action, July 6th.
He departed to the Western Front as of 1916 joining the 3rd Cavalry Division in France. His service number on the service medal and awards card is written initially as S.S., Shoeing Smith but crossed through and replaced by Private 28522.
At the time of his demise the 3rd Cavalry Division was in France where it participated during the Arras Offensive, April 9th-May 16th 1917. Private 28522 Harland Phillipson is deemed to have been killed in action, April 11th 1917. His sacrifice is recorded as one of 34,818 names inscribed on the Arras Memorial, Pas de Calais, France, within Faubourg D’Amiens Cemetery. The memorial commemorates British, South African and New Zealand forces who have no known grave, most of whom were killed during the Battle of Arras.
Private William Harland Phillipson was 28 years of age and single. All monies due to him by the Army, 14 pounds 7 shillings 8 pence, were given to his mother Mary Jane Phillipson, as were his awards of the British War Medal and Victory Medal, war gratuity was divided equally between his brother Robert Henry, sister Mary Ann and his niece Iverene Phillipson in the sum of 4 pounds each.
His mother Mary Jane Phillipson died in 1918 aged 67 years.
It should be noted the CWGC have used the rank of Shoeing Smith.
In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.
William Harland Phillipson is remembered at Castleside on C113.01
