Philip Blanshard died of wounds on this day in 1915
Phillip was born on 18 September 1894 in Hull. His parents were Henry and Alice (née Hurdman).
He was educated at Park Road Board School, Hull and employed in the Sanitary Department of Hull Corporation.
Above: A street scene in Hull. (ww1hull.com/hull-before-1914/)
At the 1911 Census, himself 16 years of age, he is given as a ‘general labourer’ and was living with his parents, seven siblings ages 5 to 21 and his 81 year old grandmother at 4 Finsbury Grove, Fountain Road, Hull.
Philip enlisted on 4 September 1914 and left England for the front on 21 January 1915 to join his battalion - the 2nd Coldstream Guards.
His time at the front was very brief. Philip was severely wounded in action a few days after his arrival at Cuinchy near La Bassée, and died in the 1st Field Hospital at 3:30pm 2 February.
He was buried in Bethune Town Cemetery.
Above: Bethune Town Cemetery (www.findagrave.com)
11466 Pte Philip Arthur Blanshard, 2nd Battalion Coldstream Guards
2 February 1915
Click here to read more on the Coldstream Guards at Cuinchy.
Research by Jonathan Vernon
Sources: English Census Returns, The Western Front Association Pension and Ledger Cards on Fold3 by Ancestry, De Ruvingny’s Roll of Honour, Census Returns. Kingston upon Hall War Memorial, In Memory (Bethune Cemetery) by Pierre Vandervelden