William George Phillips – Royal Engineers, 625 Artisan Works Company

Sapper William George Phillips – Royal Engineers, 625 Artisan Works Company

Early Life and Family Background

William George Phillips was born in 1910 in Swansea, the son of William Samuel Phillips and Hilda Lucker.

1911 Census

The 1911 Census records the family living at 24 Cambridge Street, Swansea, where William Samuel, aged 28, worked as a House Painter, and Hilda, aged 24, managed the home. Their only child at that time was William, aged 8 months.

Family Life Through the 1920s

1921 Census

A decade later, the 1921 Census shows the Phillips family still residing at 24 Cambridge Street. William Samuel, now 38, was employed as a House Painter & Decorator by Messrs W. H. Harding Ltd., Builders & Decorators, while Hilda, aged 31, continued to undertake household duties. Their children were William G., aged 10; Byron, aged 8; and Elsie, aged 6, all attending school.

Marriage and Adult Life

In 1937, William George Phillips married Dodo C. Williams, establishing his own household while remaining close to his family roots in Swansea.

1939 Register

By the time of the 1939 Register, the Phillips family were living at 59 Glanmor Road, Swansea. William Samuel was still working as a Painter & Decorator, Hilda undertook the household duties, and William George, now 29, was employed as a Carpenter. Another family member, David B., was also recorded as a Painter & Decorator, reflecting the family’s long association with the local building and decorating trades.

Service with the Royal Engineers – 625 Artisan Works Company

Role of Artisan Works Companies

During the Second World War, William served as a Sapper with the Royal Engineers, attached to 625 Artisan Works Company. These units were specialist construction and engineering formations made up of skilled tradesmen—carpenters, bricklayers, plasterers, plumbers, decorators, and other craftsmen—recruited directly from civilian building firms. Their expertise formed the backbone of the British Army’s wartime infrastructure, supporting military operations across Europe, North Africa, and the Mediterranean.

Artisan Works Companies were responsible for building and repairing military camps and accommodation, constructing workshops, stores, and depots, and maintaining essential roads, rail links, and supply routes. They also undertook the repair of bomb‑damaged facilities and contributed to the expansion and maintenance of airfields. Although these units usually operated behind the front line, their work placed them in hazardous environments. They frequently worked close to strategic targets such as ports, depots, and industrial sites—locations that were vulnerable to air raids, accidental explosions, and structural failures. Their duties demanded both technical skill and considerable physical courage.

625 Artisan Works Company in Early 1943

By February 1943, the Royal Engineers were engaged in intense preparation for major Allied operations. Artisan Works Companies were heavily tasked with expanding infrastructure for troop movements, repairing wartime damage, constructing new facilities for incoming units, and supporting the logistical build‑up required for future campaigns. This period was marked by relentless pressure on engineering units, and the work was demanding, often dangerous, and carried significant risk.

Casualties within Artisan Works Companies frequently resulted from construction accidents, vehicle incidents, collapses during repair work, and the dangers associated with working near bomb‑damaged or unstable structures. Although 8 February 1943 does not correspond to a specific recorded air raid on Swansea, it falls within a time of high operational intensity for engineering personnel. Men like William—whose civilian trade as a carpenter made him ideally suited to the skilled labour required by these units—often faced perilous conditions as they carried out essential construction and repair tasks vital to the wider war effort.

William George Phillips
Oystermouth Cemetery, Mumbles
credit - findagrave

Death and Burial

Sapper William George Phillips was killed on 8 February 1943 while serving with 625 Artisan Works Company. His body was brought home to Swansea, and he was buried at Oystermouth Cemetery, where his grave stands among those of other servicemen who lost their lives during the war.