Australian Flying Corps - 34th BATTALION A.I.F.
Lieutenant: Elias Adrian PHILLIPS.
Born: 16th August 1892. Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. Birth Cert:2667/1892.
Married: (1) 18th August 1922. Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. Marriage Cert:206/1922.
Wife: (1) Mary M Phillips. nee: Crannis. (1894-1982)
Married: (2) 1939. Waverley, New South Wales, Australia. Marriage Cert:16873/1939.
Wife: (2) Mavis Phillips. nee: Gorman. (1909-1971)
Died: 22nd August 1966. Rye, Victoria, Australia.
Father: Jacob Phillips. (1868-1941)
Mother: Sophia Sarah Phillips. nee: Moses. (1859-1946)
embarked from Melbourne on the 17th January 1917 and disembarked at Plymouth, England on the 27th March 1917. Elias was marched in the the School of Instruction in Aviation and on the 30th May was admitted to hospital with a Fractured Tibia and Injuries to his Face and Legs from an accident at Training School.
Elias was transferred to the 34th Battalion AIF on the 19th April 1918 and proceeded overseas for France via Southampton on the 28th June and was Taken on in Strength on the 4th July 1918 in the Field.
Rain commenced to fall when the Battalion moved out on 9th July 1918 to Querrieu, where the Companies settled down in settled down in shelters and dugouts on the north side of the village, whilst Battalion Headquarters were in the village. On 11th July 1918 Advance Parties left by motor lorry for Vaux and marched into the Trenches at Sailly Le Sec. The following day the Battalion marched to La Neuville and after resting until dark marched to sailly Le Sec and relieved the 46th Battalion. Out Front Line consisted of 14 Posts, which were manned by "B" and "D" Companies. "C" Company was in Support and "A" in Reserve. No Man's Land was thoroughly patrolled during the night, whilst enemy Machine Gun Fire was most active from a series of Strong Posts which he was holding. This resulted in the death of 2nd Lieutenant: 2036 Vere "Vic" Cumming STEVENSON and several Other Ranks. The enemy was Continually shelling Sally Le Sec and the Back Areas, which gave the Ration Carriers a very rough time.
On the 14th the Battalion "B" Team was cancelled and all the men were utilized in the Line, including the Bandsmen. Major: Harry Lambert Edward Dixon WHEELER. rejoined the Battalion whist here. The Front Line Posts were gradually being connected and dugouts built, but the ground having a bed of chalk and stone, the digging was very strenuous. On the 17th the enemy shelling increased, causing several casualties, including Lieutenant: 21 James BRUCE, killed in action and Captain: Herbert Henry PERCY wounded. On the 18th July a Patrol of 1 Officer and 3 men encountered a Party of 12 of the enemy who were establishing a Machine gun Post in No Man's Land, which was immediately bombed by our men and retired on the run. At 2:30 am the following morning Lieutenant: 561 Stanley Arthur SMITH, Scout Officer, and 15 Other Ranks raided two enemy Posts which had been occupied the previous night. However both these Posts were found to be unoccupied.
Aerial activity was general over this sector. An enemy Plane was driven down and the Pilot was seen to descend by parachute and land safely. On the 20 July the Battalion was relieved by the 33rd Battalion and marched to the reserve Area at Vaire sous Corbie. Whilst here Working Parties were supplied for the digging of new Communication Trenches in the Forward Area and the men also had the opportunity of obtaining baths. On the 24th the 35th Battalion was relieved in this Sector North of Hamel, with "A" and "C" Companies in the Front Line, "D" in Support and "B" in Reserve. Shell were falling fairly heavily on our Support Lines and Cookers, whilst the Ration Carriers were continually being strafed. One of our Planes at night dropped six Bombs on our Sector, apparently by mistake, but no damage resulted.
On the 27th July Lieutenant: William Henry SALVATORI. walked out into No Man's Land and did not return. Search Parties failed to find him and he was recorded "Missing", apparently a Prisoner of War. On the night of 29th July Lieutenant:561 Stanley Arthur SMITH with a Patrol attacked and enemy Strong Post and after a fight with bombs and Rifle Fire, captured one wounded prisoner. The following day the enemy Artillery was quiet during the day but at 9:30 pm opened up a severe Bombardment on the Front and Support Lines. On the 31st of July having been relieved by the 42nd Battalion, the men marched to bivouac at Daours. The weather was wet and the ground muddy. The day was spent in reorganizing the Battalion and visiting the Baths.
34th Battalion War Diary
Elias was granted leave to England from the 1st December 1918 and whist on leave he was promoted to Lieutenant on the 1st January 1919 and embarked for France the same day. Elias remained in France until we was demobilized back to England on the 21st of April and returned to Australia on the 8th October and was discharged from the AIF on the 15th January 1920.
Great Britain, Royal Aero Club Aviators’ Certificates, 1910-1950
Under Construction; 21/04/2017-20/06/2020.