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Cyril Claude PHILLPOTT (1914 - 1982)

Individual Events and Attributes

Additional Information

Marriage

Additional Information

Individual Note

Cyril was born on 2 February 1914 at 2 Mill Hill Road, Hinckley, the son of Claude and Ada. The birth was not actually registered until 13 March and an error was made at registration; the date of birth was recorded as 6 February.

In his early years, he worked in an assortment of jobs. In 1933, aged 19, his father set him up in a chip shop in Burbage; but this didn't last as Cyril gave away any profits to his friends as free meals! He also did some lorry driving for 'Dickie Bees' (Bees Transport - still active in Hinckley quite recently), and did some work in the family shop. Cyril wanted something better, was unhappy at working with the family and so he joined the navy as an Ordinary Seaman on 9th July 1936 - signing for a period of 12 years and joining HMS Victory out of Portsmouth.

In 1939 he picked up HMS Auckland and was with the crew as they sailed to deliver the ship to the New Zealand navy. However, WWII broke out while they were in transit (at Simonstown in South Africa) and the ship was quickly dispatched back to England, now as part of the Royal Navy. The recall was so quick that Cyril's best 'civvy' suit was left in a locker in Simonstown - perhaps its still there?)

He arrived back in England in November 1939, although a minor personal accident kept him here for a period before rejoining the Auckland. During his time in England Cyril trained and qualified as a Gun Layer at Whale Island off Portsmouth.

He then stayed with the Auckland until she was sunk off Tobruk in 1940-41. This event left Cyril to spend 11 hours afloat in the Mediterranean before being picked up by the 'Paramata' and ferried to Alexandria with a broken ankle.

Cyril finally arrived back in England in early 1942 (March?), disembarking in Portsmouth. In September of that year he married Eveline Mary Gregory. He also became Leading Seaman (at Gosport); needed more money now that he was married!

During 1942-43 Cyril sailed for South Africa and India. At some point during this period he befriended 'George', an Indian who ran a restaurant. He proceeded to not only show Cyril the delights of Indian dancing but also how to cook a mean curry!

Cyril finally returned to England in 1944, and was on leave on VE-day, when the celebrations included dancing in the street outside the Holywell Inn. He was finally demobbed on 30 November 1945 as Class 'A', leaving the Navy despite being asked to stay on as an instructor. He arrived back in Hinckley on a free train ride, but the greeting from Eveline and his sister Gladys was muted; they were more interested in the tinned fruit he had brought with him in his case!

Cyril had three spells of pneumonia during the war, including a stay in the military hospital in Gibralter (1942-43?) The matron here wrote back to Eveline, who made a trip to the Criterion Theatre in London and worked with Joan Gilbert to make a broadcast to Cyril in his sickbed.

After the war, Cyril worked for a period with his mother in the family newsagent in London Road, Hinckley. Hours were 0530 - 2000, seven days a week for the wage of £5. After his father died, the shop was sold (1948-49?) and Cyril worked for Poole & Co in Burbage, making donuts for Woolworths.

Shortly after this he moved to Brindley's transport as a lorry driver, but was sacked after tipping his lorry over near Sharnford. So, around 1954, he moved to George Wards and became a shoe operative. A move to another company was short-lived when he walked out in 1956.

He then worked for a short period with Percy Clark's transport before moving to ECC Quarries in Croft, as a lorry driver.

On December 3rd 1963 Cyril rescued two toddlers from a blazing house opposite his work office in Croft. This was reported on the front page of the Leicester Mercury and made Cyril something of a celebrity - although he himself made no reference to this heroic act unless prompted..

Cyril's health began to decline, and he progressively moved to the weighbridge and the sales office before finally leaving in 1976.

Cyril continued on long-term illness leave until his retirement in 1979 and death in 1982. His ashes were scattered in the Garden of Remembrance in Hinckley cemetery.⁸

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