Philip Baylis Jarvis

My uncle

1. Storyboard
2. Newspaper cutting
3. Copy of letter sent to his mother after his death
4. Photo of grave 90 years on
5. Details on storyboard
6. Information on Philip Jarvis
7. Photograph of Philip B. Jarvis in uniform
8. Letter sent to his mother
9. Letter sent to his mother
10. Letter sent to his mother
11. Letter sent to his mother
12. Death penny and Royal Artillery badge

Philip Baylis Jarvis and his twin brother Kenneth Baylis Jarvis were born in Redditch in 1896, the sons of Walter and Emily Jarvis. The family lived in Archer Road, Redditch and attended St Stephen’s School. At the age of 14 in 1911 Philip was employed as a timekeepers assistant for a needle, fish hook and tackle manufacturer. He became a lay preacher at Bates Hill Methodist Church, Redditch.

Philip Jarvis enlisted in the Royal Garrison Artillery as Gunner 117016 on 10th December 1915 at the Citadel, Plymouth. He was 19 years 5 months of age and prior to enlisting was employed as a coal merchants clerk. He was posted immediately to the army reserve before being mobilised on 4th September 1916. Philip embarked at Southampton on 27th March 1917, arriving at Havre on 28th March. It is believed that he saw action on the Somme before being moved to Ypres where he was killed in action during the battle of Passchendaele on 27th October 1917. He was on guard duty when a shell exploded close to him, the shrapnel entering his back with fatal results.

His mother Emily, who had been widowed in October 1915, received two letters informing her of his death, one from the chaplain of the regiment. Philip is buried in Klein-Vierstraat Cemetery, Belgium.

1896-1917

Redditch, England, France and Ypres, Belgium

Philip Jarvis

Friday 15th March 2019 at St Helen's Church, Worcester