Awards: D S O
Additional information: Son of Philip Oliphant Kington Blair-Oliphant and Henrietta Yaldwyn (his wife), of Ardblair Castle, Blairgowrie, Perthshire; husband of Geraldine Blair-Oliphant.
22nd Entrenching Bn., late 11th/13th Bn.
Royal Irish Rifles
formerly Rifle Brigade
Obituary
Although not a Lisburn man himself, no death at the front has caused greater grief in Lisburn that that of Lieut-Colonel Philip Laurence Kingston Blair-Oliphant. Lieut-Colonel Philip Laurence Kingston Blair-Oliphant was wounded when rendering assistance to a wounded man in the opening phase of the present German offensive, and he succumbed to the injuries he received. He was a great soldier in the true sense of the term, and we are confident that he died as he would have wished and in a manner worthy of his distinguished forbears.
Lieut-Colonel Oliphant, who was born on 17th December, 1867, was the head of the old Scottish family of Kingston-Blair-Oliphant, of Ardblair, Blairgowrie. One of his ancestors, Sir William Oliphant, helped to defend Stirling Castle against English in 1303. Sir William had a son, of whom it is recorded that he was "so gallant and brave a man that his merit preferred him to a marriage with Lady Elizabeth Bruce, daughter of King Robert I., and sister of King David II., of Scotland." Lieut-Colonel Oliphant was educated at harrow and entered the army with the last-named rank in 1902. He married on the 19th February, 1901, Laura Geraldine, second daughter of the late Mr. Frederick Bodenham of Elmhurst, Hereford, and is succeeded by his eldest son, a boy of sixteen years.
Lieut-Colonel Oliphant (then Captain Oliphant) came to Lisburn during the time the Ulster volunteer Force was at it's zenith, being specially attached by the powers that were to the 1st Lisburn Battalion of that force. He was a keen soldier, a strict disciplinarian, and a jolly good fellow, and the men were very proud to work under him. When the war broke out Captian Oliphant at once volunteered for the bigger fight, and to the great gratification of the South Antrim Volunteers, who had very soon become the 11th Battalion Royal Irish Rifles, their old officer was appointed second-in-command with the rank of Major. He went to the front with the battalion in October , 1915, and took part in all the Ulster Divisional fighting. On the historic 1st of July, 1916. Major Oliphant displayed great gallantry, for which he was awarded the D.S.O., and subsequently, on the retirement of Lieut.-Colonel Pakenham owing to ill-health, advanced to the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel and was given command of the battalion. The Officers and men were exceedingly proud of C.O. - of that we received many evidences as one after another came home on leave - and while he worked them hard, there was no grumbling or grousing, for each and every man in the battalion knew that the C.O. never did, and never would, ask them to face any danger that he was not willing to share himself. While intense regret is felt in Lisburn and district at the loss of such a fearless and gallant soldier, our regret is as nothing compared with that of the remnant left of the South Antrim Volunteers, each of whom feel that they have sustained an irreparable personal loss.
Additional information: Son of Philip Oliphant Kington Blair-Oliphant and Henrietta Yaldwyn (his wife), of Ardblair Castle, Blairgowrie, Perthshire; husband of Geraldine Blair-Oliphant.
22nd Entrenching Bn., late 11th/13th Bn.
Royal Irish Rifles
formerly Rifle Brigade
Obituary
Although not a Lisburn man himself, no death at the front has caused greater grief in Lisburn that that of Lieut-Colonel Philip Laurence Kingston Blair-Oliphant. Lieut-Colonel Philip Laurence Kingston Blair-Oliphant was wounded when rendering assistance to a wounded man in the opening phase of the present German offensive, and he succumbed to the injuries he received. He was a great soldier in the true sense of the term, and we are confident that he died as he would have wished and in a manner worthy of his distinguished forbears.
Lieut-Colonel Oliphant, who was born on 17th December, 1867, was the head of the old Scottish family of Kingston-Blair-Oliphant, of Ardblair, Blairgowrie. One of his ancestors, Sir William Oliphant, helped to defend Stirling Castle against English in 1303. Sir William had a son, of whom it is recorded that he was "so gallant and brave a man that his merit preferred him to a marriage with Lady Elizabeth Bruce, daughter of King Robert I., and sister of King David II., of Scotland." Lieut-Colonel Oliphant was educated at harrow and entered the army with the last-named rank in 1902. He married on the 19th February, 1901, Laura Geraldine, second daughter of the late Mr. Frederick Bodenham of Elmhurst, Hereford, and is succeeded by his eldest son, a boy of sixteen years.
Lieut-Colonel Oliphant (then Captain Oliphant) came to Lisburn during the time the Ulster volunteer Force was at it's zenith, being specially attached by the powers that were to the 1st Lisburn Battalion of that force. He was a keen soldier, a strict disciplinarian, and a jolly good fellow, and the men were very proud to work under him. When the war broke out Captian Oliphant at once volunteered for the bigger fight, and to the great gratification of the South Antrim Volunteers, who had very soon become the 11th Battalion Royal Irish Rifles, their old officer was appointed second-in-command with the rank of Major. He went to the front with the battalion in October , 1915, and took part in all the Ulster Divisional fighting. On the historic 1st of July, 1916. Major Oliphant displayed great gallantry, for which he was awarded the D.S.O., and subsequently, on the retirement of Lieut.-Colonel Pakenham owing to ill-health, advanced to the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel and was given command of the battalion. The Officers and men were exceedingly proud of C.O. - of that we received many evidences as one after another came home on leave - and while he worked them hard, there was no grumbling or grousing, for each and every man in the battalion knew that the C.O. never did, and never would, ask them to face any danger that he was not willing to share himself. While intense regret is felt in Lisburn and district at the loss of such a fearless and gallant soldier, our regret is as nothing compared with that of the remnant left of the South Antrim Volunteers, each of whom feel that they have sustained an irreparable personal loss.
Awards: D S O
Additional information: Son of Philip Oliphant Kington Blair-Oliphant and Henrietta Yaldwyn (his wife), of Ardblair Castle, Blairgowrie, Perthshire; husband of Geraldine Blair-Oliphant.
22nd Entrenching Bn., late 11th/13th Bn.
Royal Irish Rifles
formerly Rifle Brigade
Obituary
Although not a Lisburn man himself, no death at the front has caused greater grief in Lisburn that that of Lieut-Colonel Philip Laurence Kingston Blair-Oliphant. Lieut-Colonel Philip Laurence Kingston Blair-Oliphant was wounded when rendering assistance to a wounded man in the opening phase of the present German offensive, and he succumbed to the injuries he received. He was a great soldier in the true sense of the term, and we are confident that he died as he would have wished and in a manner worthy of his distinguished forbears.
Lieut-Colonel Oliphant, who was born on 17th December, 1867, was the head of the old Scottish family of Kingston-Blair-Oliphant, of Ardblair, Blairgowrie. One of his ancestors, Sir William Oliphant, helped to defend Stirling Castle against English in 1303. Sir William had a son, of whom it is recorded that he was "so gallant and brave a man that his merit preferred him to a marriage with Lady Elizabeth Bruce, daughter of King Robert I., and sister of King David II., of Scotland." Lieut-Colonel Oliphant was educated at harrow and entered the army with the last-named rank in 1902. He married on the 19th February, 1901, Laura Geraldine, second daughter of the late Mr. Frederick Bodenham of Elmhurst, Hereford, and is succeeded by his eldest son, a boy of sixteen years.
Lieut-Colonel Oliphant (then Captain Oliphant) came to Lisburn during the time the Ulster volunteer Force was at it's zenith, being specially attached by the powers that were to the 1st Lisburn Battalion of that force. He was a keen soldier, a strict disciplinarian, and a jolly good fellow, and the men were very proud to work under him. When the war broke out Captian Oliphant at once volunteered for the bigger fight, and to the great gratification of the South Antrim Volunteers, who had very soon become the 11th Battalion Royal Irish Rifles, their old officer was appointed second-in-command with the rank of Major. He went to the front with the battalion in October , 1915, and took part in all the Ulster Divisional fighting. On the historic 1st of July, 1916. Major Oliphant displayed great gallantry, for which he was awarded the D.S.O., and subsequently, on the retirement of Lieut.-Colonel Pakenham owing to ill-health, advanced to the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel and was given command of the battalion. The Officers and men were exceedingly proud of C.O. - of that we received many evidences as one after another came home on leave - and while he worked them hard, there was no grumbling or grousing, for each and every man in the battalion knew that the C.O. never did, and never would, ask them to face any danger that he was not willing to share himself. While intense regret is felt in Lisburn and district at the loss of such a fearless and gallant soldier, our regret is as nothing compared with that of the remnant left of the South Antrim Volunteers, each of whom feel that they have sustained an irreparable personal loss.
Additional information: Son of Philip Oliphant Kington Blair-Oliphant and Henrietta Yaldwyn (his wife), of Ardblair Castle, Blairgowrie, Perthshire; husband of Geraldine Blair-Oliphant.
22nd Entrenching Bn., late 11th/13th Bn.
Royal Irish Rifles
formerly Rifle Brigade
Obituary
Although not a Lisburn man himself, no death at the front has caused greater grief in Lisburn that that of Lieut-Colonel Philip Laurence Kingston Blair-Oliphant. Lieut-Colonel Philip Laurence Kingston Blair-Oliphant was wounded when rendering assistance to a wounded man in the opening phase of the present German offensive, and he succumbed to the injuries he received. He was a great soldier in the true sense of the term, and we are confident that he died as he would have wished and in a manner worthy of his distinguished forbears.
Lieut-Colonel Oliphant, who was born on 17th December, 1867, was the head of the old Scottish family of Kingston-Blair-Oliphant, of Ardblair, Blairgowrie. One of his ancestors, Sir William Oliphant, helped to defend Stirling Castle against English in 1303. Sir William had a son, of whom it is recorded that he was "so gallant and brave a man that his merit preferred him to a marriage with Lady Elizabeth Bruce, daughter of King Robert I., and sister of King David II., of Scotland." Lieut-Colonel Oliphant was educated at harrow and entered the army with the last-named rank in 1902. He married on the 19th February, 1901, Laura Geraldine, second daughter of the late Mr. Frederick Bodenham of Elmhurst, Hereford, and is succeeded by his eldest son, a boy of sixteen years.
Lieut-Colonel Oliphant (then Captain Oliphant) came to Lisburn during the time the Ulster volunteer Force was at it's zenith, being specially attached by the powers that were to the 1st Lisburn Battalion of that force. He was a keen soldier, a strict disciplinarian, and a jolly good fellow, and the men were very proud to work under him. When the war broke out Captian Oliphant at once volunteered for the bigger fight, and to the great gratification of the South Antrim Volunteers, who had very soon become the 11th Battalion Royal Irish Rifles, their old officer was appointed second-in-command with the rank of Major. He went to the front with the battalion in October , 1915, and took part in all the Ulster Divisional fighting. On the historic 1st of July, 1916. Major Oliphant displayed great gallantry, for which he was awarded the D.S.O., and subsequently, on the retirement of Lieut.-Colonel Pakenham owing to ill-health, advanced to the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel and was given command of the battalion. The Officers and men were exceedingly proud of C.O. - of that we received many evidences as one after another came home on leave - and while he worked them hard, there was no grumbling or grousing, for each and every man in the battalion knew that the C.O. never did, and never would, ask them to face any danger that he was not willing to share himself. While intense regret is felt in Lisburn and district at the loss of such a fearless and gallant soldier, our regret is as nothing compared with that of the remnant left of the South Antrim Volunteers, each of whom feel that they have sustained an irreparable personal loss.
Inscription
LATE CAPTAIN THE RIFLE BRIGADE OF ARDBLAIR CASTLE PERTHSHIRE
