Pte 50587 Philip Bollom

• Age: 35
• From: Christchurch, Hampshire
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 19th Btn
• K.I.A Monday 29th April 1918
• Commemorated at: Tyne Cot Memorial
  Panel Ref: Panel 31-34

The correct surname was BALLAM, his father was born John Ballam in 1852 in Poole, Dorset.

Born Philip Ballam on the 03rd December 1882 (recorded as March quarter of 1883) in Christchurch, Hampshire, the son of John Ballam and his wife Ann (nee Glass). The Ballam's whose Banns were read at St James, probably Poole, Dorset in 1873. His siblings were recorded as a mixture of Ballam/Ballom/Bollom as follows: Andrew Ballom b. December quarter 1876, Thomas Rufus Bollom b. December quarter 1878, Mary Ann Ballam b. March quarter 1881, Rosa Lily May Ballam b. March quarter 1885, Nelly Ballam b. December quarter 1886, Selina Elizabeth Ballom b. September quarter 1888 and Wanley Ballam b. June quarter 1890.

On the 1881 Census the Ballam family are living in Iford Road, Christchurch, Hants. His father, John, is aged 29, and is an agricultural labourer b.Lychett, Poole, Dorset, mother, Ann, is 30 b.Morden, Dorset, children Edwin 12 b.Poole, Fanny L. 6 b.Poole, Andrew 4 b.Christchurch, Thomas 3 b.Christchurch, Mary A. b.Christchurch.

On the 1891 Census the Ballam family are living in Avon St, Sopley, Christchurch, Hants. Father John is aged 38, an agricultural labourer b.Poole, Dorset, mother Ann is 40 b.Wareham, Dorset, children born Christchurch, Andrew 14 a scholar, Thomas 13 a scholar, Mary A. 10 a scholar, Philip 8 a scholar, Rose L. 6 a scholar, Nelly 4 a scholar, Selina 2, and Wanley 1 b.Sopley.

On the 1901 Census the Bollom family are still living at Avon St. Father John is aged 48, a carter on farm, mother Ann is 50, children Mary 20, Philip 18 a farm worker, Selina 12, Wanley 10, and Jessie 8 b.Sopley.

He married Rose Newham in 1906 in Christchurch, and they had four daughters, Edith Molly Rose in 1906, Lily May in 1908, Dorothy Phyllis in 1911 and Elsie Kate in 1913.

On the 1911 Census he is living in Sandford, near Ringwood, Hants. Philip is aged 28, a farm labourer, wife Rose is 29, born in Ringwood, they have been married for 5 years and have 3 children. The children Edith Molly Rose 4, Lily May 2 an as yet un-named child is 1 month old were all born in Ringwood. 

His parents are living at Yew Tree Cottage, Burton, Christchurch. Father John Bollom is aged 58, a cowman on a farm, mother Ann is 60. They have been married for 40 years and have had 12 children, 10 of whom have survived.

He enlisted in Aldershot and originally served as T/4/060793 in the Royal Army Service Corps. Following a transfer he served in the 19^th Battalion, The King’s Liverpool Regiment as Private No 50587.

He was killed in action on the 29^th April 1918 aged 35 during the German Spring Offensive.

The Battalion diary entry for the day gives an insight into the events of the day.  

29 April 1918 

A 3 a.m. the Enemy opened up a very heavy Bombardment of High explosive and Gas shells on our covering Artillery and at 6 a.m.. launched a powerful attack , smothering our outpost line, but failing to pierce the Battalion front, being repulsed with heavy loss. At 8 a.m. the Enemy again attacked but was repulsed. Many Casualties were caused to him during the day, as numbers of the enemy were picked off as they endeavoured to get back to their own lines. 

Casualties were Capt E B Hough Killed, 2nd Lt W. Munro Killed and 12 Other Ranks Killed, 

28 Wounded and 13 Other Ranks missing" 

Philip's body was not recovered or was subsequently lost as he has no known grave and is commemorated on the Tyne Cot Memorial.

Those United Kingdom and New Zealand servicemen who died after August 16th 1917 are named on the Tyne Cot Memorial, a site which marks the furthest point reached by Commonwealth forces in Belgium until nearly the end of the war.

The Tyne Cot Memorial now bears the names of almost 35,000 officers and men whose graves are not known. The memorial, designed by Sir Herbert Baker with sculpture by Joseph Armitage and F.V. Blundstone, was unveiled by Sir Gilbert Dyett on 20 June 1927.

The memorial forms the north-eastern boundary of Tyne Cot Cemetery, which was established around a captured German blockhouse or pill-box used as an advanced dressing station.

Philip is remembered on the memorial at St Paul's Church, Bisterne, New Forest. 

Soldiers Effects for Philip Bollom to widow Rose, Pension to widow Rose and children Edith Molly Rose, Lily May, Dorothy Phyllis and Elsie Kate.

His father died in the December quarter of 1916 aged 63.

His mother died in the June quarter of 1919 aged 68. 

Both deaths recorded in the Christchurch area. 

Rose, dob 03rd November 1879, appears on the 1939 register at Plaith Cottage, Ringwood with her married daughter Edith M.R.Cutler. 

She died in 1964 aged 84

We currently have no further information on Philip Bollom, If you have or know someone who may be able to add to the history of this soldier, please contact us.