William Philo facts for kids

William Philo was a British boxer who lived in the early 1900s. He was born on February 17, 1882, in Islington, England. William was known for his skills as a middleweight boxer. He competed in the 1908 Summer Olympics held in London, where he achieved a significant award.

William Philo won a bronze medal in boxing at the 1908 Olympics. This was a great achievement for him and for Great Britain. He competed against other talented boxers from around the world.

William Philo: Olympic Boxer and Soldier

William Philo was not just an athlete; he also served his country. He joined the British Army and was part of the 8th Battalion, Royal Fusiliers. This was during a very important time in history, World War I.

His Olympic Journey

At the 1908 London Olympics, William Philo showed his boxing talent. He competed in the middleweight category. Here is how his journey went:

• In the first round (Round of 16), he won against Arthur Murdoch from Great Britain. The judges decided he won by a score of 2-1.
• He then had a "bye" in the Quarterfinal, meaning he automatically moved to the next round without having to fight.
• In the Semifinal, he faced Reginald Baker from Australia and New Zealand. William Philo lost this match. Even though he lost, he was still awarded a bronze medal because of his strong performance in the tournament.

Serving His Country

After his boxing career, William Philo served in the British Army. He was a Company Serjeant Major. Sadly, he went missing during a major battle called the Battle of the Somme in France. This happened on July 7, 1916, when he was 34 years old. His body was never found. His name is remembered on the Thiepval Memorial in France, which honors soldiers who died in the Somme area and have no known grave.

See also

• List of Olympians killed in World War I