Memorials › Private Ira Arthur Phillips
Private Ira Arthur Phillips
24 Jun 1893 – 8 Apr 1917
| Birth | 24 Jun 1893 |
| Death | 8 Apr 1917 |
| Cemetery | Arras Road Cemetery Roclincourt , Département du Pas-de-Calais , Nord-Pas-de-Calais , France |
| Added by | Beinel on 01 Apr 2021 |
| FaG | https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/56140040 |
Gravesite details
Private, Canadian Infantry (British Columbia Regiment). Age: Unknown.
Bio
Daily Arkansas Gazette 1 Dec 1918, Sun Williford, Nov. 30. -- Perhaps not many people know that the first American to lose his life in the great war that has just closed was a modest young man of Sharp County, Arkansas. Ira Phillips, son of W. H. Phillips, a well known farmer living near the quiet little village of Sidney, in the southern district of Sharp county, was a lad of 20 in the summer of 1913, and, like many other young men reared in the hills, he longed to take a peep at the great outside world. He enlisted in the regular army of the United States, where he served for three years, being stationed at different points during his term of service. The great world war was then in progress, but Uncle Sam had taken no part up to that time. To a young man like Ira Phillips the cause of the allies appealed strongly. So on quitting army service in the United States he hastened across into Canada, where he volunteered his services to that country for overseas service. He was accepted and was serving with a Lewis machine gun squad in the 7th Canadian Regiment when he was killed at the battle of Arras, France, April 9, 1917. He was thus no doubt the first American to lose his life in the great conflict. Among the father's most highly valued possessions is a letter from the lieutenant of his company , saying that the young man was a brave and courageous soldier, well liked by all his comrades, and giving the location of his burial place near the town of Arras, where he fell. _____________________________________ Arkansas Democrat 12 June 1917, Tue Hardy, June 12-- In addition to the recruits for the United States army, Sharp county has contributed to the Canadian army. W. H. Phillips has received a letter from Lieut. L. J. Bertrand of Company 4, Seventh Canadian infantry, pertaining to the death and burial of his son, Ira Phillips, who was killed on a battlefield in France, in which he says: "You have no doubt been informed by this time of the death in action of your son, and I am writing you these few lines to convey my deep sympathy for you in your loss. Your son was in my platoon and was very much liked by me and all his comrades. He was of fearless character and devoted to duty and his loss is keenly felt by all with whom he came in contact. His death came by a machine gun bullet and was instantaneous. It may be some small consolation to you to know that he died for the great cause which is now yours as well as ours. "He was buried, together with some officers and men, in a small cemetery between Thilus and Ecmie, two small villages around which there was heavy fighting. At present there is one large cross marking the cemetery, and as soon as circumstances permit, individual crosses will be erected. The graves commissioner will send you the exact map location and a photograph of the grave." _____________________________________________ -Ira enlisted in the Canadian Army on March 15, 1916 in New Westminster, British Columbia -Ira also served for three years in the 21st Infantry (U.S.A.)
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