Pte
Owen Phillips
Information about birth
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Year of birth: 1881 |
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Place of birth: Lancefield, Victoria, Australia |
General information
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Last known residence: Lancefield, Victoria, Australia |
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Profession: Labourer |
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Religion: Roman Catholic |
Army information
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Country: Australia |
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Force: Australian Imperial Force |
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Rank: Private |
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Service number: 4276 |
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Enlistment date: 21/07/1915 |
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Enlistment place: Bendigo, Victoria, Australia |
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Units: — Australian Infantry, 7th Bn. (Last known unit) |
Information about death
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Date of death: 04/10/1917 |
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Place of death: Zonnebeke Château Grounds, Zonnebeke, Belgium |
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Cause of death: Killed in action (K.I.A.) |
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Age: 36 |
Cemetery
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Buttes New British Cemetery, Polygon Wood Plot: XXIX Row: B Grave: 1 |
Distinctions and medals 2
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British War Medal Medal |
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Victory Medal Medal |
Points of interest 4
| #1 | Place of birth | ||
| #2 | Last known residence | ||
| #3 | Enlistment place | ||
| #4 | Place of death (approximate) |
My story
Owen Phillips, a former labourer, was born in June 1881 in Lancefield, Victoria, Australia. He was the son of James and Mary Phillips. On July 21, 1915 he enlisted in Bendigo and embarked from Melbourne on board HMAT A64 Demosthenes on December 29, 1915, with the 13th reinforcement of the 7th Battalion, part of the 2nd Australian Brigade of the 1st Australian Division.
On the 4th of October 1917 the 1st Australian Division participated in the Battle of Broodseinde, a phase of the Third Battle of Ypres. The Division had to advance on the right of the village of Zonnebeke and had to capture and secure the Broodseinde Ridge and a part of the Passchendaele-Beselare Road. Its attack was carried by two Brigades. The 1st Australian Brigade and 2nd Australian Brigade. The 2nd Australian Brigade firstly attacked with the 8th Battalion. Once they had captured the first objective the 6th and 7th Battalions would move through to the second objective.
The 7th battalion was in position at about 03.30 a.m. While it lay waiting till the sign to attack the Battalion was frequently shelled. At 05.30 the German artillery laid down a heavy barrage on the rear assembly positions, causing heavy casualties. At the same time the 8th battalion advanced behind a creeping barrage. The 7th battalion left for the old frontline a half an hour later. When crossing the old frontline the 6th and 7th Battalions crowded on the left flank. Both Battalions quickly came under fire from Retaliation Farm, which was eventually taken by the 6th Battalion.
In the meanwhile the 8th Battalion had advanced through the marsh and tree stumps of Romulus and Remus Woods, north of the hamlet of Molenaarelsthoek. They arrived at the first objective, the red line, around 07.15 a.m. At 08.00 a.m. the 7th and 6th Battalions moved through the 8th Battalion and carried on the advance. While going up the ridge the 7th Battalion was now fired upon from a trench position near Celtic Wood and also from distant positions on the Keiberg. The Battalion managed to silence the position and started consolidating the Blue Line round 08.40 a.m.
No counter-attacks were launched and the Battalion kept on holding the line till they were relieved on the 8th of October.
Owen, aged 36, was killed in action on October 4, 1917, after he was first reported as wounded and missing. According to various reports, he was waiting for the barrage to lift and wis hit by an H.H. shell, together with Private Claude Carpenter, just before the attack at 5.45 a.m. Private Phillips was initially buried where he fell, south of Zonnebeke Lake (28.D.28.a.40.20). His remains were exhumed and reinterred at Buttes New British Cemetery, Plot 29, Row B, Grave 1.
Shortly before his death, Sergeant Vanstan had recommended him for promotion.
On the 4th of October 1917 the 1st Australian Division participated in the Battle of Broodseinde, a phase of the Third Battle of Ypres. The Division had to advance on the right of the village of Zonnebeke and had to capture and secure the Broodseinde Ridge and a part of the Passchendaele-Beselare Road. Its attack was carried by two Brigades. The 1st Australian Brigade and 2nd Australian Brigade. The 2nd Australian Brigade firstly attacked with the 8th Battalion. Once they had captured the first objective the 6th and 7th Battalions would move through to the second objective.
The 7th battalion was in position at about 03.30 a.m. While it lay waiting till the sign to attack the Battalion was frequently shelled. At 05.30 the German artillery laid down a heavy barrage on the rear assembly positions, causing heavy casualties. At the same time the 8th battalion advanced behind a creeping barrage. The 7th battalion left for the old frontline a half an hour later. When crossing the old frontline the 6th and 7th Battalions crowded on the left flank. Both Battalions quickly came under fire from Retaliation Farm, which was eventually taken by the 6th Battalion.
In the meanwhile the 8th Battalion had advanced through the marsh and tree stumps of Romulus and Remus Woods, north of the hamlet of Molenaarelsthoek. They arrived at the first objective, the red line, around 07.15 a.m. At 08.00 a.m. the 7th and 6th Battalions moved through the 8th Battalion and carried on the advance. While going up the ridge the 7th Battalion was now fired upon from a trench position near Celtic Wood and also from distant positions on the Keiberg. The Battalion managed to silence the position and started consolidating the Blue Line round 08.40 a.m.
No counter-attacks were launched and the Battalion kept on holding the line till they were relieved on the 8th of October.
Owen, aged 36, was killed in action on October 4, 1917, after he was first reported as wounded and missing. According to various reports, he was waiting for the barrage to lift and wis hit by an H.H. shell, together with Private Claude Carpenter, just before the attack at 5.45 a.m. Private Phillips was initially buried where he fell, south of Zonnebeke Lake (28.D.28.a.40.20). His remains were exhumed and reinterred at Buttes New British Cemetery, Plot 29, Row B, Grave 1.
Shortly before his death, Sergeant Vanstan had recommended him for promotion.
Sources 6
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2nd Brigade Australian Infantry (Australian War Memorial, Campbell (AWM), AWM4 23/2/30). https://www.awm.gov.au/ Sources used |
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7th Battalion Australian Infantry (Australian War Memorial, Campbell (AWM), AWM4 23/24/32). https://www.awm.gov.au/ Sources used |
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Australian Red Cross Wounded and Missing Enquiry Bureau (Australian War Memorial, Campbell (AWM), RCDIG1064166). https://www.awm.gov.au/ Sources used |
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Discovering Anzacs. https://discoveringanzacs.naa.gov.au Sources used |
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First Australian Imperial Force Personnel Dossiers, 1914-1920 (National Archives of Australia, Canberra (NAA), B2455). https://www.naa.gov.au/ Sources used |
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Unit embarkation nominal rolls, 1914-18 War (Australian War Memorial, Campbell (AWM), AWM8). https://www.awm.gov.au/ Sources used |
More information 4
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Commonwealth War Graves Commission Database https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/480406 |
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Lives of the First World War (Imperial War Museum) https://livesofthefirstworldwar.iwm.org.uk/lifestory/7323306 |
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Namenlijst (In Flanders Fields Museum) https://namenlijst.org/publicsearch/#/person/_id=28946caa-1d0c-4738-bcd8-cd71bbaf0686 |
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The AIF Project (UNSW Canberra) https://www.aif.adfa.edu.au/showPerson?pid=240593 |