Philip Gerard's Story.
Birkenhead News 12 October 1918MAJOR E. G. FINCH’S LOSS
Very great sympathy will be extended to Major E. G. Finch, of the Liverpool Regt., and Mrs. Finch, of 22, Ingestre Road, Oxton, in the loss of their elder and only remaining son, Lieut. Philip Gerard Finch, M.C., Northumberland Fusiliers, who, having been reported missing, is now known to have been killed in action on March 28 1918. This brave young officer, who was but 20 years of age, obtained his commission in August, 1916, and in the following month joined a battalion of the Northumberland Fusiliers at the front, where he had seen a good deal of fighting. He was awarded the Military Cross, the announcement of his distinction, dated Feb. 3, 1918, reads:- “He successfully dislodged a party of the enemy who were holding out in an advanced post. He took command of his company after an enemy counter-attack, and during the following days and nights he so persistently harassed the enemy with bombs and rifle grenades that they were forced to abandon their position. He displayed splendid courage and coolness. Lieut. P. G. Finch was educated at Birkenhead, Shrewsbury, and Sandhurst. The younger son of Major and Mrs. Finch, Second-Lieut. Hugh Adair Finch, Grenadier Guards, was killed in action on August 28th last. He was 19 years of age. They have thus lost the only children they have living.
Major and Mrs. Finch have received numberless letters of sympathy from friends and brother officers of their son, the latter bearing testimony to the high esteem in which he was held, and of his great bravery and courage.