{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2020}} {{EngvarB|date=January 2020}} {{Infobox military person |name=Robert Edwin Phillips |birth_date={{Birth date|df=y|1895|04|11}} |death_date= {{Death date and age|df=y|1968|09|23|1895|04|11}} |birth_place=West Bromwich, Staffordshire<ref name="Bugle">{{cite web | url=http://www.blackcountrybugle.co.uk/News/West-Bromwich-home-life-of-Victoria-Cross-hero-2.htm | archive-url=https://archive.today/20130420193028/http://www.blackcountrybugle.co.uk/News/West-Bromwich-home-life-of-Victoria-Cross-hero-2.htm | url-status=dead | archive-date=20 April 2013 | title=Black Country Bugle | accessdate=18 January 2013 }}</ref> |death_place= St Veep, Cornwall |burial_place=St Veep Churchyard |image= Robert Edwin Phillips VC.jpg |caption= |nickname= |allegiance={{UK}} |service_years=1914 - 1919 |rank=Captain |branch=23px British Army |commands= |unit=The Royal Warwickshire Regiment |battles= World War I |awards= 30px Victoria Cross |relations= }} '''Robert Edwin "Bob" Phillips''' VC (11 April 1895 – 23 September 1968) was an English recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.
== Early life ==
thumb|upright|Holyhead House, Philips' childhood home
Philips was born at 12, Queen Street, Hill Top, West Bromwich, (then Staffordshire) England. His father was a roll turner. He was educated at King Edward VI Grammar School, Aston.<ref name="BCB">{{cite web|url=http://www.blackcountrybugle.co.uk/West-Bromwich-home-life-Victoria-Cross-hero/story-20125258-detail/story.html|title=West Bromwich home life of Victoria Cross hero|date=10 April 2008|work=Black Country Bugle|accessdate=2 January 2015|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150102211909/http://www.blackcountrybugle.co.uk/West-Bromwich-home-life-Victoria-Cross-hero/story-20125258-detail/story.html|archivedate=2 January 2015}}</ref>
== The Medal==
He was 21 years old, and a Temporary Lieutenant in the 13th Battalion, The Royal Warwickshire Regiment,<ref name="RRF">{{cite web | url=http://www.warwickfusiliers.co.uk/pages/pg-59-captain_re_phillips_vc/ | title=Royal Regiment of Fusiliers Museum | accessdate=18 January 2013}}</ref> British Army, attached 9th (S) Battalion during the First World War when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC.
On 25 January 1917 near Kut, Mesopotamia, Lieutenant Phillips went to the assistance of his commanding officer (Edward Elers Delaval Henderson) who was lying in the open, having been mortally wounded while leading a counter-attack. The lieutenant went out with a comrade and, under the most intense fire, they succeeded in bringing their commanding officer back to British lines.<ref>{{London Gazette| issue=30122 |page=5703|date=8 June 1917|supp=y }}</ref>
He later achieved the rank of captain.
His Victoria Cross is displayed at the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers Museum (Royal Warwickshire), Warwick, England.
== Blue plaque ==
[[File:Holyhead House, Hill Top, West Bromwich - 2015-01-05 - Andy Mabbett - 02 crop.JPG|thumb|Blue plaque on Holyhead House. ]]
On 26 January 2008, a blue plaque was erected on Holyhead House,<ref>{{Coord|52.5356659|-2.0110335|region:GB-SAN_type:landmark|name=Holyhead House}}</ref> Phillips' childhood home, at 54b, Hill Top, West Bromwich.<ref name="BCB" /><ref name="BMBP">{{cite web|url=http://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/local-news/west-bromwich-home-world-war-56050|title=West Bromwich home of World War 1 VC hero Captain Robert Phillips to get blue plaque|date=4 January 2008|work=Birmingham Mail|accessdate=2 January 2015}}</ref>
== Street name ==
thumb|The revised street name plate
A street in Sandwell, near his birthplace, was named in his honour in 2000. However the name "Edwin Phillips Drive"<ref>{{Coord|52.53960|-2.00673|type:street_region:GB-SAN|name=Edwin Phillips Drive}}</ref> was used in error. Derek Pinches, Phillips' great nephew, noticed the error and local historians campaigned to have the name changed. This met with resistance from residents of the drive, 85% of whom objected. As a compromise, Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council replaced the street name plate with one explaining that the street name commemorates "Capt Robert Edwin Phillips V.C.".<ref name="ES">{{cite web|url=https://www.expressandstar.com/news/2014/04/29/street-tribute-to-vc-war-hero-shameful/|title=Street tribute to VC war hero 'shameful'|date=29 April 2014|work=Express & Star|accessdate=2 January 2015}}</ref>
==References== {{reflist}}
==Bibliography== *{{cite book|last=Gliddon|first=Gerald|year=2005|title=The Sideshows|series=VCs of the First World War|publisher=Sutton Publishing|isbn=978-0-7509-2084-1}}
==External links== *[https://web.archive.org/web/20041027212738/http://www.homeusers.prestel.co.uk/stewart/cornwall.htm Location of grave and VC medal] ''(Cornwall)'' *[https://victoriacrossonline.co.uk/robert-edwin-bob-phillips-vc/ VC online biography]
{{Royal Regiment of Fusiliers}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Phillips, Robert Edwin}} Category:1895 births Category:1968 deaths Category:People from West Bromwich Category:Royal Warwickshire Fusiliers soldiers Category:Royal Warwickshire Fusiliers officers Category:British World War I recipients of the Victoria Cross Category:British Army personnel of World War I Category:British Army recipients of the Victoria Cross Category:People educated at King Edward VI Aston School Category:Military personnel from the West Midlands (county)