Phillip Henry PRIESTLEY

Phillip Henry PRIESTLEY Update Details

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PRIESTLEY, Phillip Henry

Service Numbers:	Officer, Commissioned Officer
Enlisted:	19 August 1914, Morphettville, South Australia
Last Rank:	Major
Last Unit:	8th Light Horse Regiment
Born:	Adelaide, South Australia, 23 December 1871
Home Town:	Grange, City of Charles Sturt / Henley and Grange, South Australia
Schooling:	University of Adelaide, South Australia
Occupation:	Accountant
Died:	Killed In Action, Syria, 3 May 1918, aged 46 years
Cemetery:	Damascus Commonwealth War Cemetery, Syria
Memorials:	Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Henley Beach Council Fallen WW1 & WW2 Honour Board, Naval & Military Club of SA - Boer War Roll of Honour, Naval & Military Club of SA - Boer War Roll of Honour

Boer War Service

1 Oct 1899:	Involvement Lieutenant, 5th South Australian Imperial Bushmen
1 Oct 1899:	Involvement Australian and Colonial Military Forces - Boer War Contingents, Lieutenant, Officer, 5th Imperial Bushmen

World War 1 Service

19 Aug 1914:	Enlisted AIF WW1, Captain, Commissioned Officer, 3rd Light Horse Regiment, Morphettville, South Australia
22 Oct 1914:	Involvement AIF WW1, Captain, Officer, 3rd Light Horse Regiment, Enlistment/Embarkation WW1, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '1' embarkation_place: Adelaide embarkation_ship: HMAT Port Lincoln embarkation_ship_number: A17 public_note: ''
22 Oct 1914:	Embarked AIF WW1, Captain, Officer, 3rd Light Horse Regiment, HMAT Port Lincoln, Adelaide
12 May 1915:	Involvement AIF WW1, Major, Officer, 3rd Light Horse Regiment, ANZAC / Gallipoli
28 May 1915:	Wounded ANZAC / Gallipoli, Gun Shot Wound (General Shrapnel Wound?) to Hand
1 Dec 1915:	Involvement AIF WW1, Lieutenant Colonel, Officer, 3rd Light Horse Regiment, ANZAC / Gallipoli, Rank of Temporary Lieutenant-Colonel
7 Dec 1915:	Involvement AIF WW1, Major, Officer, 3rd Light Horse Regiment, ANZAC / Gallipoli
2 Nov 1917:	Embarked AIF WW1, Major, Officer, 8th Light Horse Regiment, HMAT Commonwealth (A73), Melbourne
2 Nov 1917:	Involvement AIF WW1, Major, Officer, 8th Light Horse Regiment, Enlistment/Embarkation WW1
30 Apr 1918:	Involvement AIF WW1, Major, Officer, 8th Light Horse Regiment, Es Salt Raid
3 May 1918:	Involvement AIF WW1, Major, 8th Light Horse Regiment

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Biography contributed by Steve Larkins

Phillip Henry Priestley was born on 23 December 1871 in Adelaide, South Australia.

He saw service as a Lieutenant during the Boer War with the 5th Imperial Bushman's Contingent. His army service after the war was followed by service as an Acting Provost Marshal of the 4th Military District (South Australia) as well as with the South Australian Mounted Rifles, the 16th & 17th Light Horse Brigades and 17 years as Camp Commandant TI Camp.

An accountant from Grange, South Australia prior to enlistment, Priestley embarked with the rank of Captain with A Squadron, 3rd Light Horse Regiment from Adelaide on HMAT Port Lincoln on 22 October 1914.

Kept in Egypt orginally, the 3rd Light Horse only landed on Gallipoli, without their horses, on 12 May 1915.

12 May - 25 June 1915: Commanding A Squadron, 3rd Light Horse Regiment

26 June - 19 July 1915: Temporarily 2nd in Command of 3rd Light Horse Regiment

20 July - 9 September 1915: Temporarily Commanding Officer of 3rd Light Horse Regiment.

10 September 1915: Temporarily 2nd in Command of 3rd Light Horse Regiment

During his service in Gallipoli he was wounded once in May but recovered and returned to his unit quickly.

After the evacuation of Gallipoli he was also sick in hospitial for a short period of time.

Discharged from AIF in early 1916 due to excessive alcoholism.

In July 1917 he as secretary, with other committee members organised a Light Horse Reinforcements Re-Union.

In late 1917 he was called up by the AIF for service, as the Light Horse was critically low on experienced officers.

After arriving in the Middle East he was transferred to the 8th Light Horse Regiment with the rank of Major.

He was killed in Action during the Es Salt raids on 3 March 1918.

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