Philip was educated at Berwick Grammar School and at Edinburgh University, where he qualified M.B., Ch.B in 1910 and M.D. in 1917. He had joined the R.A.M.C. at the rank of Lieutenant in August 1914, and served in the Isolation Hospital in Aldershot from 1914 - 1918. During this time he gained promotion to Captain in August 1915. In September 1917 he was mentioned in despatched - on 22nd September 1917 a notice in the British Medical Journal brought forward his name to the Secretary of State for War for valuable services rendered in connexion with the war. Philip entered the war in France on 9th January 1918. He was awarded the Military Cross in October 1918 "For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. He continued to bind up wounded on a road under shell fire. He also showed great ability in getting wounded evacuated from the aid post, and generally showed great coolness and disregard of danger under fire throughout the operation." Philip was the son of Dr Maclagan of Berwick-on-Tweed; and was married to the second daughter of Mrs Robinson, Cluden, Annan. His address was 2A Love Lane, Berwick on Tweed.