PHILLIPS, Joseph William

PHILLIPS, Joseph William – A Southern Downs Veteran

CONFLICT : WWI
SERVICE NO : 2143
RANK : Private
UNIT : 15th Battalion
ENLISTMENT DATE : 12/05/1916
AGE : 18
PLACE OF ENLISTMENT : Brisbane, Queensland
PLACE OF BIRTH : Boggabilla, New South Wales
RELIGION : Roman Catholic
OCCUPATION : Stockman
DATE OF DEATH : 9/06/1959
PLACE OF BURIAL : Goondiwindi, Queensland

MEMORIALS : Yelarbon War Memorial, Yelarbon Roll of Honour, Goondiwindi War Memorial

View Veteran’s Service File : PHILLIPS, Joseph William

NOTES :  Joseph William Phillips was born in Boggabilla, New South Wales and he was living at Yetman at the time of his enlistment. This eighteen-year-old stockman made the decision to travel to Brisbane to farewell his family before he enlisted in the army on 12 May 1916.

HMAT A46 Clan MacGillivray embarked from Brisbane on 7 September 1916 with Joseph aboard. The ship disembarked at Plymouth, England and Joseph marched into the 3rdDivision Training Battalion. Proceeding overseas to France with the 42nd Battalion, Joseph was wounded on three occasions. On the first occasion in June 1917, he suffered a gunshot wound to the right forearm and re-joined the 42nd Battalion from hospital in July. In October 1917 he once again received a gunshot wound to his left fingers. The third occasion saw him gassed.

He was promoted to Lance Corporal on 30 September 1918, and was transferred to the 15th Battalion after being released from hospital. After going A.W.L. he was deprived of his stripe and reverted to the rank of Private in June 1919.

While on leave in England, Joseph married Elizabeth Byrne at St Joseph Roman Catholic Church on 31st July 1919. Elizabeth was listed as a housekeeper and her father James Byrne worked as a carpenter.

Joseph left England per Themistocles for return to Australia and disembarked at Sydney on 9 February 1920. His wife was later transported to Australia as a war bride and the couple lived their lives at Yelarbon.

Copyright 2026 Deborah C Wheeler and Duncan McLean, Southern Downs Military History

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