Biography:
Philip Ryland Pinsent was born 25 September 1897, the fifth and youngest son of Sir Richard Alfred Pinsent CBE., DSO, Legion of Honour and President of the Law Society and Laura Pinsent, nee Ryland. The family lived at Selly Wick, near Birmingham, and also at Priors Barton, Kingsgate Road, Winchester. He was one of three Wykehamist brothers, another of whom, Lieutenant Laurance Alfred Pinsent (College 1908-1913), North Staffordshire Regiment, fell in August 1915 (see individual entry).
Philip, known as Pip, came to Winchester College from Horris Hill in September 1911 and was in E House, Morshead's. He ran and played soccer for his house, and he was On Dress for Commoner XV in 1915.
He left Winchester in December 1915 and went to the Daimler Works in Coventry to take a three months' course in aeronautic engineering and so qualify himself for the Royal Flying Corps. Pip then obtained a commission in March 1916 and in the following July flew to France to join 34th Squadron, where he made a reputation as a skilful pilot and director of artillery fire.
He was wounded while flying on 23 September 23rd 1916: his machine was suddenly attacked by an enemy aeroplane, which dived at it silently with the engine shut off. He died of his wounds at Allonville the next day - the eve of his nineteenth birthday - and is buried in the cemetery there.
Copies of letters from all three Pinsent brothers are held in the College Archives. Please contact the archivist for more information [email protected]