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Rifleman Colin Campbell Phillips
Description
TitleRifleman Colin Campbell PhillipsSummaryA soldier in World War One. DescriptionColin Phillips was born 1 December 1894 in Weedons, third son of William and Johanna Phillips of "Lochearn" Weedons. He was educated at the Weedon’s public school, and afterwards at the West Christchurch District High School. It was reported that when war was declared he took a keen interest in recruiting, and also in patriotic gatherings in the district. Before enlisting he was farming at Weedons for his father. He had previous military experience having served with the North Canterbury and Westland Regiment. He was 5ft 11in tall with a fresh complexion, grey eyes and brown hair.
He enlisted at Trentham on 14 October 1915 and was assigned to the New Zealand Rifle Brigade. He embarked on the Ulimaroa for Suez arriving 13 March 1916. He sailed for France on the Alaunia on 14 April 1916. He attended a week long Grenade School in the field on the 16 July, which presumably was in preparation for the September Offensive. He was killed in action aged 21 during the New Zealand Division action in the Battle for the Ancre Heights. His name is recorded on the Caterpillar Valley Memorial to the Missing, Somme. In New Zealand he is remembered on the Springston War Memorial.
Longueval is a village approximately 13 kilometres east of Albert and 10 kilometres south of Bapaume. The Memorial is situated on a terrace in Caterpillar Valley Cemetery, which lies a short distance west of Longueval, on the south side of the road to Contalmaison. Caterpillar Valley was the name given by the army to the long valley which rises eastwards, past "Caterpillar Wood", to the high ground at Guillemont. The ground was captured, after very fierce fighting, in the latter part of July 1916. It was lost in the German advance of March 1918 and recovered by the 38th (Welsh) Division on 28 August 1918, when a little cemetery was made (now Plot 1 of this cemetery) containing 25 graves of the 38th Division and the 6th Dragoon Guards. After the Armistice, this cemetery was hugely increased when the graves of more than 5,500 officers and men were brought in from other small cemeteries, and the battlefields of the Somme. The great majority of these soldiers died in the autumn of 1916 and almost all the rest in August or September 1918. First NameColin CampbellLast NamePhillipsFamilySingleThird son of William and Johanna Phillips of "Lochearn" WeedonsDate of Birth1 December 1894Place of BirthWeedonsDate of Death1 October 1916Place of DeathSomme, France Cause of DeathKilled in actionAge at Death21
He enlisted at Trentham on 14 October 1915 and was assigned to the New Zealand Rifle Brigade. He embarked on the Ulimaroa for Suez arriving 13 March 1916. He sailed for France on the Alaunia on 14 April 1916. He attended a week long Grenade School in the field on the 16 July, which presumably was in preparation for the September Offensive. He was killed in action aged 21 during the New Zealand Division action in the Battle for the Ancre Heights. His name is recorded on the Caterpillar Valley Memorial to the Missing, Somme. In New Zealand he is remembered on the Springston War Memorial.
Longueval is a village approximately 13 kilometres east of Albert and 10 kilometres south of Bapaume. The Memorial is situated on a terrace in Caterpillar Valley Cemetery, which lies a short distance west of Longueval, on the south side of the road to Contalmaison. Caterpillar Valley was the name given by the army to the long valley which rises eastwards, past "Caterpillar Wood", to the high ground at Guillemont. The ground was captured, after very fierce fighting, in the latter part of July 1916. It was lost in the German advance of March 1918 and recovered by the 38th (Welsh) Division on 28 August 1918, when a little cemetery was made (now Plot 1 of this cemetery) containing 25 graves of the 38th Division and the 6th Dragoon Guards. After the Armistice, this cemetery was hugely increased when the graves of more than 5,500 officers and men were brought in from other small cemeteries, and the battlefields of the Somme. The great majority of these soldiers died in the autumn of 1916 and almost all the rest in August or September 1918. First NameColin CampbellLast NamePhillipsFamilySingleThird son of William and Johanna Phillips of "Lochearn" WeedonsDate of Birth1 December 1894Place of BirthWeedonsDate of Death1 October 1916Place of DeathSomme, France Cause of DeathKilled in actionAge at Death21
Connections
CollectionSoldiers of Selwyn World War OneImageSpringston War MemorialMore InformationAuckland War Memorial Cenotaph
Military Service
Memorial or CemeteryCaterpillar Valley Memorial to the MissingSpringston War Memorial Occupation before EnlistingFarmerRegiment or ServiceNew Zealand Rifle BrigadeEnlistment Details14th October 1915 at TrenthamService Number25/1107TransportUlimaroaCountryNew Zealand
Attribution
Researched ByL. M. Seaton
Rifleman Colin Campbell Phillips. Selwyn Stories, accessed 06/06/2026, https://selwynstories.selwynlibraries.co.nz/nodes/view/359