Lawrence Phillips
Lawrence Phillips (Jan. 19, 1891 – July 18, 1918) was an Oneida man killed in action in France during World War I.
See Also: Scott Countians killed in war
Biography
Born Jan. 19, 1891, Lawrence Phillips was the son of Perry Phillips and Mildred Phillips of Oneida. He was a grandson of Jehu Phillips, one of Scott County’s early elected officials, and was one of two of Phillips’ grandsons to be killed on the same day of the war (the other was Robert Hughett).
Phillips had nine siblings: Rebecca Elizabeth Thomas (1882-1938), Andrew Phillips, Mary Belle Phillips (1887-1974), Florence Phillips, Rosa Phillips, Nora Beth Sherrill (1896-1975), Hattie Byrd (1898-1999), Emma Sexton (1900-1997) and James Phillips.
World War I
Sgt. Phillips enlisted in the U.S. Army when he turned 18. He re-enlisted on April 6, 1917 at Columbus Barracks in Ohio, and was assigned to Co. E, 9th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Division. He was at the Battle of Chateau Thierry and at Soissons in northeastern France, where he was killed on July 18, 1918.
Sgt. Phillips was in the trenches at Soissons from April 26, 1918 to May 2, 1918. He was killed during the first day of the Battle of Soissons, which was fought from July 18 to July 22, 1918. Sgt. Phillips and his cousin, Pvt. Robert Hughett, were both killed on the same day at the same battle..
The Americans and British supported the French at Soissons, which marked the turning point of the war by forcing the Germans to retreat and put them on the defensive for the remainder of the war. Allied forces suffered nearly 120,000 casualties during the battle — mostly French, but also including more than 11,200 Americans. Sgt. Phillips and Pvt. Hughett were among the Americans.
Aftermath
Sgt. Phillips was buried at the Oise-Aisne American Cemetery in France, along with more than 6,000 other American soldiers who were killed while fighting in the vicinity. The 36.5-acre site includes a memorial to the fallen, and is one of eight permanent World War I American military cemeteries established outside the U.S.
Sgt. Hett Phillips from Scott County, a distant cousin, was killed in the same battle three days later.