Pauline Priano has submitted the following:-
Albert Edward Phillipson was born 1890 in Spennymoor the son of Thomas Phillipson 1857 native of Latham, Lancashire and his wife Elizabeth Boyer born Wigan, Lancashire in 1860. Thomas and Elizabeth were married October 14th 1878 in the parish of Skelmersdale, Lancashire where Thomas was employed as a coal hewer. Albert was one of 4 surviving children, (5 deceased), 3 boys and 1 girl. After the birth of their first child Thomas and his wife migrated north in the early 1880s and by 1911 were living at 89 West Chilton Terrace, Ferryhill. Albert’s father was still employed as a hewer below ground and Albert himself, although only 14 years old, worked as a screener above ground.
Albert Edward Phillipson enlisted in the Royal Field Artillery as a gunner, D Company, 99th Brigade part of the 22nd Division, attached to the 8th Field Survey Company. The artillery of the 22nd Brigade was based at Lewis from September 1914 and crossed to France in early September 1915 and concentrated near Flesselles by September 9th. Their stay was short as October 27th 1915 they were moved by train to Marseilles to embark for Salonika (Greece). The Division participated in the Battles of Horseshoe Hill and Machulovo in 1916 and the Battle of Doiran in 1917 and began to return to France during September and October of 1918. They had suffered numerous casualties of killed, wounded and missing but vastly larger numbers of sick with malaria, dysentery and other diseases rife in the area of Salonika. Gunner 765251 Albert Edward Phillipson was hospitalised prior to the departure of the 22nd Division and died of sickness (not specified) at the 28th General Hospital in Salonika, November 28th 1918. He is interred at Mikra British Cemetery, Kalamaria, Greece, grave 946. His headstone bears addition wording requested and paid for by his mother Elizabeth at a cost of 13/8 (thirteen shillings and eight pence) and reads, Robed In Everlasting Beauty We Shall See Thee Once Again. Albert was 22 years old and unmarried. He was awarded the British War Medal and the Victory Medal.
In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.
Albert Edward Phillipson is remembered at Chilton on C107.01, C107.04 and C107.12
