Eric Harold PHILLIPS MM

PHILLIPS, Eric Harold

Service Numbers: 36533, Q217036
Enlisted: 28 October 1916, Rockhampton, Queensland
Last Rank: Lieutenant
Last Unit: 14th (QLD) Battalion Volunteer Defence Corps (VDC)
Born: Clermont, Queensland, 24 August 1888
Home Town: Rockhampton, Rockhampton, Queensland
Schooling: Not yet discovered
Occupation: Clerk
Died: Natural causes, Wooloowin, Queensland, 6 April 1954, aged 65 years
Cemetery: Mount Thompson Memorial Gardens & Crematorium, Queensland
Memorials:
Show Relationships

World War 1 Service

28 Oct 1916: Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 36533, Rockhampton, Queensland
5 Nov 1917: Embarked AIF WW1, Driver, 36533, Field Artillery Brigades, HMAT Port Sydney, Sydney
5 Nov 1917: Involvement AIF WW1, Driver, 36533, Field Artillery Brigades, Enlistment/Embarkation WW1, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '4' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: HMAT Port Sydney embarkation_ship_number: A15 public_note: ''
23 Aug 1918: Honoured Military Medal, "The Last Hundred Days", 'At HERLEVILLE during the operation on the morning of the 23rd instant, these two Telephonists [1102 M. WATTS, 36533 E.H. PHILLIPS] formed a relay station in our old front line accompanying the F.O. Officer. Throughout the operation a very heavy hostile barrage was placed on our forward areas, repeatedly cutting the lines. These two men showed an utter disregard for personal safety maintaining the line under very hostile fire, thereby enabling information of considerable importance, to be transmitted to Brigade Headquarters
26 Sep 1919: Discharged AIF WW1, Sapper, 36533, 2nd Divisional Signal Company

World War 2 Service

10 Aug 1942: Enlisted Australian Military Forces (Army WW2), Lieutenant, Q217036
10 Aug 1942: Enlisted Q217036, Volunteer Defence Corps (SA), Longreach, Queensland
11 Aug 1942: Involvement Q217036, 14th (QLD) Battalion Volunteer Defence Corps (VDC), Homeland Defence - Militia and non deployed forces, Page missing from Enlistment Register
22 Oct 1945: Discharged Lieutenant, Q217036, 14th (QLD) Battalion Volunteer Defence Corps (VDC)

Help us honour Eric Harold Phillips's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.

Biography contributed by Paul Trevor

'PHILLIPS, Eric Harold. Signaller, No. 36,533, Field Artillery M.M. Born at Clermont, and educated at North Rockhampton. The son of the late Janet Phillips and William Phillips, of Bernard Street, North Rockhampton. Enlisted at Rockhampton 27th December, 1916, and went into Enoggera Camp, where he was attached to Field Artillery. Left for Sydney, where he was for some months at Liverpool Camp. Left for England November, 1917, per S.S. "Port Sydney," and arrived January 1918, where he went to Salisbury Plain. Left for France and went through the battles of Amiens, Hamel, Villiers Brettoneaux, and on until the signing of the Armistice. He was awarded the Military Medal for bravery on the field.' from Queenslanders Who Fought in the Great War. (nla.gov.au)

'DEATH OF MR E. H. PHILLIPS. 

LONGREACH, April 7. - Mr. Eric Harold Phillips who died in Brisbane on Tuesday aged 65 years, was assistant secretary of the Graziers' Association of Central and Northern Queensland at Longreach from 1913 to 1920 and secretary from 1920 to 1949, when he retired.

He was a member of the AIF in the Great War until the cessation of hostilities in 1918. He was one of the earliest members of the Longreach sub-branch of the RSL, filling several executive positions, and also secretary of the town band, for several years.

He married Miss Olive Holden Dean, daughter of a former Town Clerk of Rockhampton at that city in 1920. She survives him, residing at Wooloowin (Brisbane).

Since his retirement and residence in Brisbane the deceased had been employed in the Federal and State Public Services.

He was born at Clermont and was a son of Mr William Phillips, who later, had an accountancy business in Rockhampton.' from Morning Bulletin 8 Apr 1954 (nla.gov.au)

Read more...

Biography contributed by Paul Widdup

Eric Harold Phillips from Clermont Queensland was 28 years old when he enlisted on 28-10-1916. He had previous service for three years in the 1st Light Horse. Saw action in France with 2 DAC, also 10th Bty 4 F.A.B.

Transferred to 2nd Divisional Signal Company late in his military career.

Awarded the Military Medal

'At HERLEVILLE during the operation on the morning of the 23rd instant, these two Telephonists [1102 M. WATTS, 36533 E.H. PHILLIPS] formed a relay station in our old front line accompanying the F.O. Officer. Throughout the operation a very heavy hostile barrage was placed on our forward areas, repeatedly cutting the lines. These two men showed an utter disregard for personal safety maintaining the line under very hostile fire, thereby enabling information of considerable importance, to be transmitted to Brigade Headquarters.'
Source: 'Commonwealth Gazette' No. 75
Date: 17 June 1919
Other details
War service: Western Front

Medals: Military Medal, British War Medal, Victory Medal

Read more...