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Major General Cecil Farndale Phillips 11 September 1905 to 25 February 1961
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Born
Cecil Farndale Phillips was born on 11 September 1905 at York, the son of Ernest Samuel and Emmie Phillips.
His father Ernest Samuel Phillips was a soldier HOC Conduct Clerk born in 1872 in St Pancras, London. His mother was Emmie Phillips, born in Holloway, London in 1879. Ernest Samuel Farndale married Emmie Layton in the first quarter of 1898 in Portsea Island, Hampshire.
His middle name ‘Farndale’ suggests that he might have had a possibly maternal Farndale ancestor. Anna Farndale (1801 to 1867)(FAR00242) married William Phillips in 1841. Could they have been his grandparents or great grandparents?
Ernest Samuel Phillips, his father, born 1872
Census 1881, 103 Yardley Road, Aston, Warwickshire
Samuel Phillips, 54, born 1827, hatter and furrier born in Warwickshire
Mary A Phillips, his wife, born 1835
5 daughters and 6 sons including Ernest
Granddaughter
Governess
Emmie Phillips, his mother, born 1879
Lived
1911 Census – 5 Morley Road, Eastney, Portsmouth
Ernest Samuel Phillips, 39, soldier HOC Conduct Clerk
Emmie Phillips, 32
Ernest Edwin Phillips, 13, son, at school, born in Portsmouth in 1898
Norman Eric Phillips, 7, son, at school, born in York in 1904
Cecil Farndale Phillips, 5, son, at school, born in York in 1905
Margery Emmie Phillips, 1, born in Portsmouth in 1910
1921 Census – 4 Salisbury Avenue, Colchester, Essex
Ernest Samuel Phillips, Army Captain
Emmie Phillips
Norman Eric Phillips, 17, articled apprentice with AG Mumford Ltd, Marine Engineer
Cecil Farndale Phillips, 15
Margery Emmie Phillips, 11
Leslie Alan Phillips, 5, born Colchester in 1916
Grace Alice Spinks, domestic servant
Western Morning News 24 July 1931
Married
Cecil Farndale Phillips married Lovering Catherine Burns (born 23 January 1906 and died in New Zealand in 1994)
Lived
1939 Register – 7 Church Street, Ewell, Surrey
Cecil F Phillips, born 11 September 1905, Captain Royal Marines, Chatham Division
Lovering C Phillips, born 23 January 1906
(Express and Echo, 22 July 1940)
World War 2
In 1940, Cecil served with the 3rd Battalion, Durham Home Guard.
By 12 September 1944, Cecil was an acting Lieutenant Colonel (formerly Captain), Royal Marines
He was awarded the Distinguished Service Order.
Lieutenant-Colonel Phillips was commanding 47 (Royal Marine) Commando during the assault in the Le Hamel area on 6th June 1944. The task of this Commando was to land behind the right assault brigade (231st Brigade) of the Division and after passing through it advance and capture Port En Bessin, a distance of some eight miles. Owing to the high wind and tempestuous seas several of the assault landing craft were swamped and the occupants had to swim for it - much equipment and many arms were lost. Undismayed by this fortune Lieutenant-Colonel Phillips soon had his men assembled and re-organised, those without weapon and equipment being made up from captured enemy material, and the advance began.
Soon after passing through the leading elements of 231st Brigade the Commando ran up against stiff resistance and from then on until the port fell to them the next day they had to fight the whole way. Never once did they falter or hesitate and by the skill and leadership and determination of Lieutenant-Colonel Phillips each successive point of resistance was methodically and relentlessly overpowered - some 250 prisoners were captured as well as a large number of enemy killed. The defence of the port was stronger than had been anticipated, and included some well armed flak ships. It was defended stubbornly and with great tenacity, but the commando was not to be denied and by great feat of arms and endurance finally triumphed. This outstanding achievement was largely due to Lieutenant-Colonel Phillips' gallant conduct and resolution, the inspiring example he set and his exceptional qualities as a leader and commander.
After the conclusion of the Normandy campaign, Lieutenant-Colonel Phillips continued to lead No.47 Commando until January 1945. He was subsequently promoted to Brigadier and given command of the 116th Infantry Brigade RM. For his service with both of these units in the Netherlands, he was made a Knight Commander of the Order of Oranje Nassau with Swords. His citation reads:
The above named officer commanded 47 (Royal Marine) Commando during the assault landing on Walcheren and later, until January 1945, on River Maas North of Ousterhout, when he returned to the United Kingdom on promotion. He returned the following month in command of 116th Infantry Brigade RM which was deployed on the River Maas between Tilburg and 's-Hertogenbosch. During the months of March and April the Royal Netherlands Brigade served under command and took part in many highly successful raids in strength across the river, notably at Hedel.
Major General Cecil Farndale Phillips Royal Marines, Chief of Amphibious Warfare 1954 to 1957, was awarded the KBE (Mil) on 13 June 1957.
Acting Lieutenant Colonel Cecil Farndale Phillips was the Commanding Officer of No. 47 Royal Marine Commando, Royal Marines, during operations at Normandy and Walcheren. Post war he commanded 3 Commando Brigade Royal Marines during operations in Malaya.
1 September 1923 appointed Probationary 2nd Lieutenant RM [*].
1 September 1935 promoted Captain [*].
1 August 1943 - 3 January 1945 Commanding Officer 47RM Commando [*].
June 1944 (Acting Lieutenant Colonel) appointed D.S.O., for gallant and distinguished services while operating with the Army in Normandy [1].
August 1946 appointed Knight Commander of the Order of Oranje Nassau with Swords by the Queen of the Netherlands [2] and [*].
1946 - 1948 on the staff of the Joint Services Staff College [*].
1948 - 1950 Chief Instructor Combined Operations [*].
1951 - 1952 Commanding Officer 3 Commando Brigade RM in Malaya [*].
1952 (Major General) Mentioned in Despatches for gallant and distinguished service in Malaya during the period 1st January to 30th June, 1952 [3].
1 January 1953 (Major-General) appointed C.B.E. (Military Division) [4].
1954 Chief of Amphibious Warfare [*].
1 January 1955 (Major General) appointed C.B. (Military Division) [5].
13 June 1957 (Major General) appointed K.B.E. (Military Division) [6].
1 September 1957 to Retired List [*].
Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire (KBE)
Companion of the Order of the Bath (CB)
Distinguished Service Order (DSO)
Mentioned in Despatches
Order of Oranje Nassau with Swords (Netherlands)
(The Yorkshire Observer, 29 December 1950) (The Western Morning News, 29 December 1950) (South Wales Echo, 29 December 1950) (Western Evening Herald, 29 December 1950)
(The Scotsman, 2 January 1953)
Companion of the Order of the Bath:
(The Scotsman, 3 January 1955)
(Grimsby Daily Telegraph, 22 May
1957)
(Grimsby
Daily Telegraph, 30 May 1957)
(Grimsby Daily Telegraph, 7 June 1957)
(Grimsby Daily Telegraph, 13 June 1957) (The Scotsman, 13 June 1957)
(Grimsby Daily Telegraph, 4 July 1957) (Hull Daily Mail, 14 August 1957) (Grimsby Daily Telegraph, 22 August 1957)
(Grimsby Daily Telegraph, 5 September 1957)
(Grimsby Daily Telegraph, 30 November 1957)
(Grimsby Daily Telegraph, 9 January 1958)
(The Evening News, 21 May 1958)
(Grimsby Daily Telegraph, 24 May 1958) (Daily Mirror, 9 September 1958) (Grimsby Evening Telegraph, 9 January 1959)
(The Sphere, 12 September 1959)
(Grimsby Daily Telegraph, 27 January 1960) (Grimsby Evening Telegraph, 4 February 1960) (Grimsby Evening Telegraph, 13 February 1960)
(Daily Mail, 18 February 1960) (Scunthorpe Evening Telegraph, 1 March 1960)
(Liverpool Daily Post, 15 June 1960) (Grimsby Evening Telegraph, 9 August 1960) (Grimsby Evening Telegraph, 22 September 1960)
(Daily Mail, 22 September 1960) (Grimsby Evening Telegraph, 23 September 1960)
(Grimsby Evening Telegraph, 2 January 1961)
Died
Cecil Farndale Phillips died on 25 February 1961 in Lincolnshire.
(The News, 27 February 1961) (Daily Mail, 27 February 1961) (Lincolnshire Echo, 27 February 1961)
(Western Morning News, 27 February 1961) (Nottingham Evening News, 27 February 1961) (Grimsby Evening Telegraph, 27 February 1961) (Grimsby Evening Telegraph, 2 March 1961)
(Hampshire Telegraph & Post and Naval Chronicle, 3 March 1961) (Grimsby Daily Telegraph, 3 March 1961) (Lincolnshire Echo, 3 March 1961)
(The Illustrated London News, 4 March 1961) (Daily Mail, 22 March 1961) (The News, 12 May 1961)
(Grimsby Evening Telegraph, 3 January 1966)