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Canadian Virtual War Memorial

Bertram Phillips

In memory of:

Private Bertram Phillips

August 27, 1918

Military Service

Service Number:

2265517

Age:

27

Force:

Army

Unit:

Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry (Eastern Ontario Regt.)

Additional Information

Born:

March 3, 1891
London, United Kingdom

Enlistment:

May 30, 1917
Saint John, New Brunswick

His real name was Edgar Albert Mitchell and he is also commemorated on page 472 of the First World War Book of Remembrance.

Commemorated on Page 485 of the First World War Book of Remembrance. Request a copy of this page. Download high resolution copy of this page.

Burial Information

Cemetery:

VIMY MEMORIAL
Pas de Calais, France

Grave Reference:

N/A

Location:

Canada's most impressive tribute overseas to those Canadians who fought and gave their lives in the First World War is the majestic and inspiring Vimy Memorial, which overlooks the Douai Plain from the highest point of Vimy Ridge, about eight kilometres northeast of Arras on the N17 towards Lens. The Memorial is signposted from this road to the left, just before you enter the village of Vimy from the south. The memorial itself is someway inside the memorial park, but again it is well signposted. At the base of the memorial, these words appear in French and in English:

TO THE VALOUR OF THEIR COUNTRYMEN IN THE GREAT WAR AND IN MEMORY OF THEIR SIXTY THOUSAND DEAD THIS MONUMENT IS RAISED BY THE PEOPLE OF CANADA


Inscribed on the ramparts of the Vimy Memorial are the names of over 11,000 Canadian soldiers who were posted as 'missing, presumed dead' in France. A plaque at the entrance to the memorial states that the land for the battlefield park, 91.18 hectares in extent, was 'the free gift in perpetuity of the French nation to the people of Canada'. Construction of the massive work began in 1925, and 11 years later, on July 26, 1936, the monument was unveiled by King Edward VIII. The park surrounding the Vimy Memorial was created by horticultural experts. Canadian trees and shrubs were planted in great masses to resemble the woods and forests of Canada. Wooded parklands surround the grassy slopes of the approaches around the Vimy Memorial. Trenches and tunnels have been restored and preserved and the visitor can picture the magnitude of the task that faced the Canadian Corps on that distant dawn when history was made. On April 3, 2003, the Government of Canada designated April 9th of each year as a national day of remembrance of the Battle of Vimy Ridge.

Information courtesy of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.

Digital Collection

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  • Document– Private Bertram Phillips #2265517 is an alias name for the true soldier Private Edgar Allen Mitchell #2265517. The image shown here is taken from the second version of the service record for the two men, with the authoritative statement that he is one in the same person. There is an additional conflict in that the CWGC reports that he was serving with the Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry when killed in action on 27 August 1918. His service record states that he had already been transferred to the 21st Battalion by that time (5 June 1918). That is in agreement with the Casualty Record for Bertram Phillips, as well as the location of the recovered remains west of Vis-en-Artois. The P.P.C.L.I. was at Jigsaw Wood, well to the northwest of that area on 27 August 1918. The CWGC has been notified.

    Details

    Document
    Document – Private Bertram Phillips #2265517 is an alias name for the true soldier Private Edgar Allen Mitchell #2265517. The image shown here is taken from the second version of the service record for the two men, with the authoritative statement that he is one in the same person. There is an additional conflict in that the CWGC reports that he was serving with the Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry when killed in action on 27 August 1918. His service record states that he had already been transferred to the 21st Battalion by that time (5 June 1918). That is in agreement with the Casualty Record for Bertram Phillips, as well as the location of the recovered remains west of Vis-en-Artois. The P.P.C.L.I. was at Jigsaw Wood, well to the northwest of that area on 27 August 1918. The CWGC has been notified.
  • Attestation paper– This record in the main file of Private Bertram Phillips #2265517 (the alias name of Edgar Allen Mitchell) shows that he transferred to the 21st Canadian Infantry Battalion on 5 June 1918, prior to his death on 27 August 1918 to the west of Vis-en-Artois. At the present time, the CWGC and CVWM records show that he was still with the Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry at the time of his death. The War Graves Register documents, both Casualty and E-13 properly record that he was with the 21st Battalion at the time of his death. This is also confirmed by the location where his death is reported as "west of Vis-en-Artois". That is the correct location for the 21st Battalion, whereas the P.P.C.L.I. were well to the northwest at Jigsaw Wood on that same date.

    Details

    Attestation paper
    Attestation paper – This record in the main file of Private Bertram Phillips #2265517 (the alias name of Edgar Allen Mitchell) shows that he transferred to the 21st Canadian Infantry Battalion on 5 June 1918, prior to his death on 27 August 1918 to the west of Vis-en-Artois. At the present time, the CWGC and CVWM records show that he was still with the Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry at the time of his death. The War Graves Register documents, both Casualty and E-13 properly record that he was with the 21st Battalion at the time of his death. This is also confirmed by the location where his death is reported as "west of Vis-en-Artois". That is the correct location for the 21st Battalion, whereas the P.P.C.L.I. were well to the northwest at Jigsaw Wood on that same date.
  • Circumstances of death registers– The Casualty Report (Circumstance of Death) properly records that Private Bertram Phillips #2265517 (alias for Edgar Allen Mitchell) was serving with the 21st Canadian Infantry Battalion at the time of his death on 27 August 1918. He was killed in action to the west of vis-en-Artois, which is in agreement with the location of the 21st Battalion on that date.

    Details

    Circumstances of death registers
    Circumstances of death registers – The Casualty Report (Circumstance of Death) properly records that Private Bertram Phillips #2265517 (alias for Edgar Allen Mitchell) was serving with the 21st Canadian Infantry Battalion at the time of his death on 27 August 1918. He was killed in action to the west of vis-en-Artois, which is in agreement with the location of the 21st Battalion on that date.
  • Circumstances of death registers– The War Graves Register (E-13) properly records that Private Bertram Phillips #2265517 (alias for Edgar Allen Mitchell) was serving with the 21st Canadian Infantry Battalion at the time of his death on 27 August 1918. This is in agreement with his Casualty Report and his Service Record. At the time of these submissions, both the CWGC and the CVWM show that he was serving with the Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry at the time of his death. That is incorrect and each party has been notified.

    Details

    Circumstances of death registers
    Circumstances of death registers – The War Graves Register (E-13) properly records that Private Bertram Phillips #2265517 (alias for Edgar Allen Mitchell) was serving with the 21st Canadian Infantry Battalion at the time of his death on 27 August 1918. This is in agreement with his Casualty Report and his Service Record. At the time of these submissions, both the CWGC and the CVWM show that he was serving with the Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry at the time of his death. That is incorrect and each party has been notified.

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