Wallace Banta Phillips was born in New York City, in the United States of America, on the 30th March 1886, the son of Henry Wallace and Ella Warren Phillips (née Banta). He was an only child, but he had a step-sister from his father’s first marriage. For many years, his family resided at Redford Avenue, Brooklyn, New York City, before moving to 29. Lefferts Place, also in Brooklyn.
Wallace worked for The Pyrene Company of Delaware, manufacturing and selling ‘pump’ fire extinguishers. He travelled extensively to Europe on behalf of the company before establishing an ‘off-shoot’ company, named The Pyrene Company Limited in England. The company operated from 19 - 21. Great Queen Street, London. He also maintained offices at 52. Vanderbilt Avenue, New York City. From 1914, his main place of residence was in London, and when he was in New York, he stayed with his parents at the Lefferts Place address.
On the 26th March 1915, he travelled to New York from Liverpool on the Lusitania. He booked return saloon class passage before leaving England, intending to return on the May Day sailing of the same vessel. Having concluded his business, he arrived at
the liner's berth at Pier 54 in New York harbour on the morning of the 1st May, and boarded, with ticket number 46097. He was escorted to his room B12, which was the personal responsibility of First Class Bedroom Steward William Williams, who came from Liverpool.
The liner's departure from New York was then delayed until just after mid-day, as she had to embark passengers, crew and cargo from the Anchor Lines vessel Cameronia, which had been taken up from trade by the British Admiralty at the end of April for use as a troop ship. The Lusitania finally got under way at 12.27 p.m. and six days later, she was torpedoed and sunk by the German submarine U-20, off the southern coast of Ireland, only hours away from the safety of her Liverpool home port.
Wallace Phillips was one of the minority of saloon passengers to survive this action and after being rescued from the sea and being landed at Queenstown, he told of his survival in which he remembered seeing the millionaire Alfred Vanderbilt standing on the starboard side of the ship, five minutes before the liner went down. Wallace Phillips was aged 29 years at the time of the sinking.
Bedroom Steward Williams, who had looked after Wallace Phillips in room B12, also survived the sinking and eventually made it back to his Liverpool home.
He eventually made it to London, but returned to New York City later that year when he boarded the Rotterdam at Falmouth on the 23rd October. Shortly after his arrival, he married his fiancée, Ann Lewis in New Jersey, and they returned to London in December 1915, where they established their home, however, they had no children.
Wallace Phillips continued as managing director of The Pyrene Company Limited for many years, and having returned to London from New York in December 1916, he began working for the U.S. State Department in the Intelligence Section of the American Expeditionary Force, moving to Paris, France, for the duration of the War.
In later years, Wallace and his wife resided at Stuart House, North Drive, Wentworth, Surrey, and they also maintained a residence at the luxurious apartment hotel, The Ritz Tower, at 465. Park Avenue, New York City.
Wallace Banta Phillips died on the 14th April 1952 at the Roosevelt Hospital, New York City, aged 66 years. Probate of his estate was granted at London on the 9th October 1952 to his widow, Ann, and Horace Field Parshall, barrister-at-law. His estate amounted to £171,890-6s.-0d. (£171,890.30p.).
The Pyrene Company Limited grew to be one of the world leaders in firefighting equipment and still exists today, however, since 1971, it has been known as Chubb Fire Security Limited.
New Jersey U.S. Marriage Index 1901 – 2016, New York U.S. Death Index 1949 – 1965, 1892 New York State Census, 1900 U.S. Federal Census, 1905 New York State Census, 1910 U.S. Federal Census, 1915 New York State Census, 1925 New York State Census, 1939 Register, U.S. Passport Applications 1795 – 1925, New York Passenger Lists 1820 – 1957, Cunard Records, U.S. World War II Draft Registration Cards 1942, New York Times, Seven Days to Disaster, Tragedy of the Lusitania, probate Records, PRO BT 22/71, Graham Maddocks, Stuart Williamson, Geoff Whitfield, Michael Poirier, Jim Kalafus, Cliff Barry, Paul Latimer, Norman Gray.
Copyright © Peter Kelly.