He was born in 1895. We have found him aged 6 living with his family in New Street Mold in the1901 census.His father was Robert W Phillips aged 33 and a Draper’s Assistant (we think) and also a preacher. His mother was Catherine M Phillips aged 31. There were four children altogether Winifred 11, Lillian 7, Robert N 6, Henry J.4.
Ten years later in the 1911 census the family was still in New Street (Nos 60 and 62). They seem to have gone ‘up’ in the world as Mr Phillips aged 45 was by now an employer. He described himself as a ‘Draper, clothes and stationery’. His wife was 41 and was a confectioner and restaurant keeper. Winifred 21 and Lillian 17 helped in the restaurant, Robert Nefydd was 16 and worked with his father in Drapery and Henry John 14 helped his father with the stationery. There were two more daughters both at school, Elizabeth Emma 12 and Anne Doris 9. There was a boarder – a retired coal miner aged 74, an Uncle who was a retired car proprietor and a visitor who was a 29 year old horse breaker. The census form tells us that the family was bilingual speaking Welsh and English. They had 12 rooms in their home.
The father of this family died a year after that census in 1912 aged 46. We know that his widow remarried a Mr Freeman a saddler in 1914 who was also killed early in the war. Sgt Freeman has his own page on this website.
There is a Flintshire roll of Honour card for Robert in the Archive Office in Hawarden which says he was recommended for gallantry.
This family grave is in Mold Cemetery. It bears the words
In Loving Memory of Robert William Phillips
Passed away May 13th 1912 aged 46 years.
Also Catherine Mary his beloved wife
Passed away Nov 7th 1946 aged 76 years
Also their beloved son Robert Nefydd
Died of wounds April 10th 1917 aged 22 years
Buried at Etrun France
In heavenly love abiding
Also Winifred Maria Phillips
Daughter of the above
County Herald 27th April 1917
County Herald 27th April 1917
The grave of Robert Nefydd Phillips at Duisans Cemetery in France. Photograph taken on 16th October 2013 by E & V Williams
The entrance to Duisans Cemetery 16th October 2013. The site was chosen as a cemetery to serve a casualty Clearing Station mostly after the battle of Arras and the ensuing trench warfare.
A lovely row of trees marks the far end of the cemetery.