PRIVATE W PHILPOTT
NORTH STAFFORDSHIRE REGIMENT
31ST DECEMBER 1914 AGE 22
BURIED: BAILLEUL COMMUNAL CEMETERY NORD, FRANCE
Private Philpott died of wounds in a Casualty Clearing Station at Bailleul on the last day of 1914 with someone at his bedside who was able to record his last words and communicate them to his mother, who chose them for his headstone inscription.
It is possible that it was his mother who was at his bedside as it was not unheard of for the next-of-kin to be sent for. However, I have a feeling that this was only done when the patient was in one of the base hospitals and Bailleul was a Casualty Clearing Station, not far from the front line. Nevertheless, such was the care taken to communicate with the next-of-kin that it's quite possible that Mrs Philpott was informed of his words in a letter written by one of the nurses or by an army padre.