James Erasmus Tracey Philipps

Who was James Erasmus Tracey Philipps?

James Edward Tracy Philipps MC was a British diplomat and explorer

Philipps was the son of the Reverend John Erasmus Philipps Vicar of Enstone, Oxfordshire, and Margaret Louisa Everard Ffolkes. He married pianist Lubka Kolessa of Ukrainian origin, daughter of famous Ukrainian professor, on 13 March 1939 in Prague, on the eve of the occupation

From Abingdon School and Marlborough College he entered Durham University, becoming editor of The Sphinx and president of the union. Joining the Rifle Brigade, Philipps transferred as Captain to the South African Intelligence Department. During the First World War he was attached to the King's African Rifles and was awarded the Military Cross. He joined the Arab Bureau in Cairo and the British Relief Commission to south Russia. He was The Times correspondent in the Greeco-Turkish war and a foreign news correspondent. He served as a member of UNRRA, and travelled on foot from east to west across Equatorial Africa. He published numerous articles on zoology, linguistics, Islam, social reform and international affairs.