Philip Forrest Groves, born on 23rd March 1897, was admitted to King Edward’s School in September 1910, having attended the Edgbaston Preparatory School for four years beforehand. He was the only son of Flora and Wellington, a mains engineer for the Electricity Supply Department, and the family, including his sister, Sylvia, lived at 21, Vicarage Road, Edgbaston (and later at 4, Lyttleton Road).
At School, Philip was a Sub-Librarian, Secretary of the Debating Society, and Controller of the Cot Fund. Academically, he was placed quite high in his class, and was a talented mathematician.
After leaving School, Philip entered Keble College, Oxford, but was conscripted before he could attend. He enlisted in the Royal Engineers, Railway Operating Division, as a Sapper. He died in hospital in France on 21st January 1917, aged twenty. Philip is buried in Malo les Bains Communal Cemetery, near Dunkirk.