401122 Cpl. Philip Robert Lizmore was born July 10th, 1895, in South End, Essex, England, to Philip Absalom and Katie Eliza Lizmore (nee Cable). Philip had a younger brother, William, and 2 sisters. The family had been living in Great Wakering, England, before they immigrated to Canada in October of 1912, where they settled in London, Ontario.
Philip volunteered to the 33rd Battalion of the C.E.F. on July 6th, 1915, in London, Ontario, just 4 days before his 20th birthday. He was given regimental number 401122 and assigned to 'A' Company. Philip stood 6 feet tall, weighed 150 lbs. and was described as having a fair complexion, blue eyes and light brown hair. Philip had been a carpenter, was not married and listed his religion as the Church of England.
Philip's act of volunteering must have inspired his 15 year old younger brother, William, who lied about his birth date to appear to be 18 and volunteered a week later.
While in training Philip's leadership skills were noted and he was promoted to Lance Corporal on January 24th, 1916, and to Acting Corporal on February 10th while the unit was in Quebec. After completing the 8 months of training, Philip and the rest of the 33rd Battalion set sail from Halifax on March 17, 1916, on the S.S. Lapland and arrived in England on the 25th. After waiting out his quarantine period he spent a few months in England in reserve.
On June 2nd, the Canadian 3rd Division front, south-east of Ypres, near Sanctuary Wood, which included the men of the 4th Canadian Mounted Rifles, the 1st CMR and the P.P.C.L.I, were surprised by a sudden and vicious artillery attack on their positions around Mount Sorrel. The five hour artillery attack culminated in three mines being sprung in front of the 4th CMR line, and was quickly followed up by a German infantry attack. The 4th CMR suffered the highest losses with many men killed (most of whom were lost without trace in the rain of steel and explosives), or were taken prisoner.
With reserve battalions being called upon for fresh numbers to make up the 4th CMR, Philip was transferred from the 33rd OB on June 5th, 1916, to help re-build the ranks. He arrived in France on the 7th and he and 498 other men joined the unit in the field on June 9th. As part of the transfer, Philip was reverted to the ranks on the 7th and re-promoted to Acting Lance Corporal on the 11th.
On September 8th, Philip and the rest of 4th CMR moved away from the Mount Sorrel area near Ypres, to billets in Franqueville, on the Somme. 'The Battle of the Somme' had started when the British attacked on July 1st, but there was still heavy fighting going on even in September.
On the 15th Philip took part in the attack on Courcelette and again the 4th CMR took heavy losses, including 34 men killed and 52 wounded. Shortly after this action, Philip was promoted to Corporal on September 26th, 1916. On October 1st, Philip and the 4th CMR took part in the further attack to take Regina trench. 66 men of the 4th CMR died that day. After the battle, Philip was reported missing and believed killed in action. He was also reported as wounded the same day so there was some confusion about what had happened to him.
On December 3rd, his military records state "enquiries have been made" but it is unclear as to who the enquiries were made to. Perhaps it was to the Germans to see if they had more information about Philip. Positive confirmation of his loss would not come until 5 months later on March 3rd, 1917, when the area was occupied by British troops during the German retreat to the Hindenburg Line.
Philip is commemorated at Tincourt New British Cemetery along with 4 other men from the 4th CMR who were killed that same day. After the Armistice, Tincourt Cemetery was used for the reburial of soldiers found on the battlefield or moved from small German cemeteries, so it is likely he was moved before finding his final resting place in Tincourt.
Philip's brother, William, served with the Canadian Army Medical corps and confessed to his real age on March 15th, 1917, but this was too late. William also died as a result of wounds suffered in the war and on March 31st, 1921. He passed away at Queen Alexandra Sanatorium from Pulmonary Tuberculosis, which was likely caused by a gas wound.
Credit and many thanks go to Bryan Joyce for the above biography.