Phillips, Harold Norman

Late-deafened. Born at Beckenham, County Kent, England; unsuccessful in entering civil service; attempts to enlist at around age 20 as as soldier during the Boer War in South Africa failed when the doctors discovered Phillips' hearing was deteriorating. First worked for a drapery company, then emigrated to Canada to work as a farm laborer. Finding it not to his taste, he attempted to become a postal worker, but paradoxically was rejected both because he was deaf and because his speech was too good to be classified as a deaf person. Stayed at the Manitoba Institution for the deaf for a while before finally winning a post office appointment, remaining with the mails until retirement 40 years later (1906-1946). First deaf editor for 18 years of The WCAD news, a newspaper published by the Western Canada Association of the Deaf. Died at Winnipeg, Manitoba.