George Phillips
- Died:
- 11 January 1872
- Age:
- 23
- Rank:
- Police Constable
- Force:
- Gloucestershire Constabulary
- Cause:
- Train
- Duty Status:
- On Duty
Roll of Honour Citation
Died after being struck by a train near Combe Dingle while walking along the railway line to his police station.
Police Memorial Tribute
On the evening of 9th January 1872, PC Phillips and a colleague were walking back from Fishponds to Shirehampton police station, along the Bristol Port and Pier railway line. About 6:00pm, after calling at Westbury police station, the two officers recommenced their journey but George stopped near Combe Dingle while his colleague continued walking, reaching Shirehampton about 7:30pm.
When PC Phillips had failed to return three hours later, his colleague set out to search for him but by 3:00am had not managed to locate him.
Shortly after 5:00am, nine-and-a-half hours after the officer was last seen, three men found George with severe head injuries, lying in a ditch beside the railway track and took him to Sea Mills railway station.
It appears that after leaving his colleague PC Phillips had decided to take a short cut home but, on realising the 7:30pm train was due, had hurried back to board it but caught his foot on a signal wire and stumbled on to the track where, unconscious, he was later struck by the train.
He died twenty-four hours after being found.
George had served in the Constabulary for a little over twelve months.
