James Erasmus Tracey Phillips

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James Erasmus Tracey Phillips MC (1888-1959) was a British diplomat and explorer

Phillips was the son of the Reverend J. E. Phillips of East Hagbourne, Berkshire. From Abingdon School(1899-1904) and Marlborough College (1904-06) he entered Durham University, becoming editor of The Sphinx and president of the union. Joining the Rifle Brigade (1912), Phillips transferred as Captain to the South African Intelligence Department. During the First World War he was attached to the King's African Rifles (1914) and was awarded the Military Cross (1916). He joined the Arab Bureau in Cairo (1918) and the British Relief Commission to south Russia (1921). He was The Times correspondent in the Greeco-Turkish war (1922) and a foreign news correspondent (1936-39). He served as a member of UNRRA (1944-45), and travelled on foot from east to west across Equatorial Africa. He published numerous articles on zoology, linguistics, Islam, social reform and international affairs.