John Philpot died in France on February 26th, 1916; aged 30 years.
He had only been gazetted 2nd Lieutenant in the Tunnelling Section of the Royal Engineers for three months, and it was less than two months after he had crossed the Channel that he succumbed to the effects of gas poisoning. The poison gas had penetrated a mine in the trenches, and several of its occupants were overcome by it. Mr. Philpot insisted on going into the mine to take his part in trying to rescue the sufferers; but he was soon in the same condition as the others, and expired before the rescue party could reach him.
He was an Old Carthusian, and received his professional education at the Royal School of Mines. He went to Rhodesia in 1913, and for over two years held an appointment on the Gaika Mine at Que Que, relinquishing it to join the Royal Engineers in 1915.
Mr. Philpot was admitted to Studentship, of the Institution in 1908.
Vol. 25, Trans I.M.M., 1915-16, p.403
