Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

1911 Father Frank Phillips, Mother Florence Eliza Phillips and family emigrated to
Western Australia - Frank Albert Phillips was 12.5 years of age.
They lived at 13 Smeddle Terrace, East Perth, Western Australia
(30/05/1919 mother and siblings returned to live at 141 Manchester Road, Millwall,
  London, England)

Frank was the eldest Son, born in Woolwich, Kent, England in 1898.

Father:
7191 Sapper Frank Phillips - 4th Field Company Engineers
22/01/1916  enlisted into WWI in Perth, Western Australia
31/03/1916  embarked Sydney, NSW onboard HMAT A16 Star Of Victoria
                   as a Sapper with 4th Field Company Engineers, 5th Reinforcements
05/05/1916  disembarked into Tel-el-Kebir
06/12/1916  received gun shot wound to head, knocked unconscious
                   admitted to 38th Casualty Clearing Station
13/12/1916  sadly he died of his wounds
buried in:    Heilly Station Cemetery, Mericourt-L'Abbe, France
                  Plot VI, Row F, Grave 6
His name is commemorated on:
- Panel 24 at the Australian War Memorial, Canberra, ACT.
- Church of St Andrew (Somerset, England) - War Memorial plaque in the church

Close Friend:
2716 - Private Arthur Kenworthy RYAN - 51st Infantry Ballation
Born Abbotsford Victoria
lived at 125 Kensington Street, East Perth, Western Australia
Father Philip Garland Ryan and Mother Lucy Ryan, lived at 125 Kensington Street,
East Perth, Western Australia
19/06/1916  enlisted into WWI
10/10/1916  embarked Fremantle, WA onboard HMAT A23 Suffolk
                   as a Private with 51st Battalion, 6th Reinforcement
05/04/1918  Killed in Action - 23 years of age
Originally buried and noted as 'Unknown Australian Soldier'
11/12/1923  exhumed, identified and reburied in:
                   Villers-Bretonneux Military Cemetery, Fouilloy, France
                   Plot VIa, Row D, Grave 1/2
His name is commemorated on Panel 153 at the Australian War Memorial, Canberra, ACT.

Frank Albert Phillips previous served:
1 year with 37th Battalion, still serving on enlisting

Frank Albert Phillips was described on enlisting as 18 years 8 months of age; 5' 5 3/4" tall;
138 lbs; dark complexion; brown eyes; brown hair; Church of England

19/06/1916  enlisted into WWI in Perth, WA - 18 years of age

20/09/1916  appointed to 6th reinforcements, 51st Infantry Battalion, Blackboy Hill

10/10/1916  embarked Fremantle, WA onboard HMAT A23 Suffolk
                   as a Private - 51st Battalion, 6th Reinforcement
02/12/1916  disembarked into Plymouth, England

28/12/1916  proceeded overseas onboard SS Princess Victoria, ex Folkestone

01/01/1917  taken on strength 51st Infantry Battalion

02/04/1917  gun shot wound to right knee (mild), wounded in action, France

10/04/1917  embarked onboard hospital ship HS Jan Breydel at Boulogne, France
                   for England
10/04/1917  admitted to Middlesex War Hospital, Clacton-on-Sea, England
11/04/1917  transferred to 3rd London General Hospital, Wandsworth, England
02/05/1917  admitted to 1st Auxillary Hospital, Harefield
08/05/1917  discharged to depot, Harefield

08/03/1918  marched out to overseas Training Brigade, Weymouth

02/04/1918  proceeded overseas to France, ex Southampton
03/04/1918  marched in to Havre, France

08/04/1918  rejoined unit in the field

He was with a machine gun company on 25/04/1918, and whilst attacking at
Villers-Brettoneux, France, he was hit by gun shot to the head and chest,
killing him instantly.

Stated by Corporal 2977 Ralph Alexander Ross - 51st Infantry Battalion
- 15/01/1919 in London
"He was in A.Company, 3rd Platoon. 5ft 7, dark, stout, and 20 years old.
  At Villers-Brettoneux on April 24th 1918 at 10pm we were attacking with
  a machine gun party when we encountered heavy machine gun fire from
  the Enemy.  Phillips was killed instantly.  We advanced and left him lying
  on the field dead.  I know nothing of his burial."

Stated by Private 1937 John Hickman - 51st Infantry Battalion
- 09/01/1919 in London
"He was in A.Company, 3rd Platoon, 5ft 7ins, dark, stout build, and 20 years
  of age. I do not know what state he came from, I am not sure of the date,
  but I think it was on April 24th 1918 at about 10pm.  We were attacking. He
  and I were members of a Machine gun party.  He was killed instantly by
  enemy machine gun bullets in head and chest. I saw him dead.  I know
  nothing of his burial."

Due to severe shelling in the area, there was No known grave located.

His name is commemorated on:
- the Australian National Memorial, Villers-Bretonneux, France
- Panel 158 at the Australian War Memorial, Canberra, ACT

Medals:   British War medal (49585); Victory medal (48985)
              Memorial Plaque and Scroll (344623)

Submitted by Julianne T Ryan.  05/04/2017.  Lest we forget.