PHILIP RUSSELL PELLS

Image courtesy of the Capel St Mary War Memorial Trust

Born: 1924, Ipswich.

Died: 18th July 1944; age: 20; at Normandy.

Residence: Hill House, Capel St. Mary, Suffolk.

Rank: Second Lieutenant; Service Number: 308253.

Regiment: Royal Armoured Corps, Royal Tank Regiment, 3rd Battalion.

Final resting place unknown.

Memorial Reference:

Panel 8 Column 2.

Bayeux Memorial,

Calvados,

Normandy,

France.

Father: Arthur George Pells, born 1887, Eaton, Norfolk. A Brewer’s Manager.

Mother: Florence Pells (nee Martin), born 1888, Guist, Norfolk – died January 1930, at 43, Bolton Road, Ipswich.

Philip attended Ipswich School.

ENGLAND & WALES REGISTER 1939

Philip was living with his father, and father’s new wife at their family home – 43, Bolton Lane, Ipswich.

Arthur, a Brewery Manager.

Celia Mary Pells (nee Andrews), unpaid Domestic Duties, born February 1894, Felixstowe, Suffolk.

1 general domestic servant.

Probate to Arthur George Pells – father, a brewer’s manager.

Philip is also remembered on the Ipswich School Chapel war memorial and Capel St. Mary’s Memorial.

A PERSONAL MEMORY – Pat, April 2017

I first met Philip when we were both six years old at the Ipswich High School, which was then located in Westerfield Road and we formed a close childhood friendship. I was the only girl at his Party in Bolton Lane together with ten boys. I remember him quite seriously asking me to marry him. He reminded me of that when he sought me out as a young adult. He went to Ipswich School and I continued at the High School and our meeting were intermittent. We started seeing each other again more seriously in the sixth form but circumstances prevented us meeting too often.

I went off to College and he went to Sandhurst and very soon he was off to France.

 Philip was a lovely boy, kind, thoughtful and very dedicated to help win the war and to do his duty for his country. 

He wrote to me from France and said he was doing what he wanted to do and was enjoying it. He said please don’t worry about me because if I get killed you will know that I died doing what I wanted to do and felt was right.

A few weeks later I heard that he had been killed. He was only twenty.

I thought this was a terrible waste of a life and ever since have been a peace lover and am a Life Member of the United Nations Association which supports the United Nations which is our only, if not very successful, instrument to try and secure peace in the world and prevent the terrible waste of life which war causes.

Royal Armoured Corps, Royal Tank Regiment, 3rd Battalion

Between the 18th and 21st July 1944, 3RTR took part in Operation Goodwood, the Allied forces attempted thrust out of Caen. Despite initial successes in clearing the German forces out of the surrounding villages, Goodwood finally ground to a halt after suffering large casualties.

It is believed Philip was outside his tank during a American artillery bombardment of a close position, he was found slumped next to his tank being struck by shrapnel.