Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Phillip, born at Mt Barker on the 3rd January 1913, was the fifth son and one of ten children born to Walter William and Daisy Neate Hoskin. His siblings included Charles Leonard, William Neate, Jack Murray, Arthur Gillard, Elsie Neate, Leonard Frederick, Ross Edward, Doris Jean and Ralph Dennison.
The family later moved to the north-west suburban town of Kilkenny where the children attended the Westbourne Park School at a time where families were an essential part of the extended school ‘family’. A further move followed in late years to Mindarie, a small town between Loxton and Karoonda in the Mid Murray.
With the outbreak of WWII, 31-year-old William was the first of the sons to enlist on the 13th of June 1940, having previously been involved for three years in the Militia. He was allocated to the 2/7th Regiment as SX5029 and arrived in the Middle East on the 14th May ’41. He was fortunate to survive the war, continuing to serve until the closing days at Tarakan, before being discharged on the 9th November ’46.
A younger brother of Philip’s, Ross was also an early enlistee when WWII erupted. He was particularly keen to do his duty, enlisting on the 25th June ’40, to the extent that the 18 year old generously manipulated his age, claiming to be 20 and born in 1919. At the time he was employed as a driver. He was allocated the number SX6737 and placed in the newly formed 2/48th Battalion, little knowing that this would become one of the highly respected and decorated group of soldiers, called the Rats of Tobruk.
Another older brother, 30-year-old Jack Murray, a nurseryman, was the next to enlist on the 23rd April ’41 as S24363 with the 43rd Battalion.
28-year-old Philip had also been involved in the Militia as S27331 in the 43rd Battalion. He had previously been employed as both a gardener and chauffeur, the latter being recognised as a very useful skill during the war. He undertook a Course with the Transport Wing, which rated his skills as being ‘Conduct excellent – good driver at present on convoy duty, possesses fair mechanical knowledge.’ Philip enlisted the year after Ross, on the 27th May ’41 as SX13004, initially in the same battalion as Ross as part of the 2/48th reinforcements. He received a promotion to Acting Corporal in October ’41 as he arrived in the Middle East. Unfortunately, a chronic ear infection (otitis media) saw him spend a fortnight in hospital as it then developed in both ears. By January ’43 the 2/48th Battalion was finally able to leave the Middle East, arriving back in Australia via Melbourne where he then served in the 2/7th Field Regiment. Battalion. Well-earned leave followed.
At this stage, Phillip’s young brother, 18-year-old Ralph enlisted in the Airforce as 152410 on the 29th February ’44. He was the fourth of the brothers to enlist, having previously worked in the Postal delivery system. (In a letter of recommendation, the postal service had described him as being “Honest, punctual ad attentive”.) He rose to the rank of Corporal, eventually being discharged on the 27th February, ’46.
Unfortunately, that year Philip sustained a fractured pelvis in September in an accidental injury but the following month he returned to continue serving.
Following training in Queensland, early in May 45 Phillip left Townsville for Morotai. In July that year, an official photo was taken of the members of Battery Headquarters, 2/7th Field Regiment where Phil was serving at Tarakan. He continued serving there until his return to Australia in December. Unfortunately, at that time continued tropical conditions had contributed to Philip developing frustrating dermatitis. He was finally discharged on the 5th February ’46.
In June ‘51Philip married Marjorie Jean Martin of Enfield in the Scots Church on North Terrace in a mid-afternoon ceremony. They later welcomed daughters, Kaye Letitia in March ’52 and Judith Anne in January ’54.
Phil continued to be actively involved in the North Glenelg Sub-Branch of the RSL where he served as Treasurer in 1960 and ’61, then Vice President in ’62, and again from ’90 to ’94, as well as being a committee man from ’84 to ’89. His efforts were recognised with an RSL League Service Award in 1987.
Ross’s parents lived for some time after the boys returned home. 80-year-old Walter died on the 17th August ’63. Daisy lived for a further seven years and aged 82, died on the 3rd September 1970. Both now rest in the Cheltenham Cemetery.
As they aged, Marjorie experienced on-going health issues, with Philip visiting her daily in her nursing home. Even after her death, he continued to visit others in the home, chatting and reading to them. Marjorie pre-deceased Philip and died in September ‘86. She was buried in the Centennial Park Cemetery, West Plot, Rose bed W45 Position 15. Philip lived a long life, decades after Marjorie. He died aged 98 on the 12th March 2011 and now also rests in Centennial Park Cemetery, close to Marjorie. In a tribute to him, the family also remembered him as being an author.
Researched and written by Kaye Lee, daughter of Bryan Holmes SX8133, 2/48th Battalion.