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Died: 22nd August 1918 Killed in Action Villers-Bretonneux, France.
| 33rd Battalion. AIF | 3 Officers | 82 Other ranks |
| 34th Battalion. AIF | 5 Officers | 120 Other ranks |
| 35th Battalion. AIF | 9 Officers | 282 Other ranks (including 44 missing) |
| 36th Battalion. AIF | 12 Officers | 133 Other ranks (including 1 missing) |
| 9th Machine Gun Company. AIF | 1 Officer | 18 Other ranks (including 4 missing) |
’On the 16th April, the rumours of a new German Offensive against Amiens seemed to be definitely confirmed. A German prisoner, taken by the French, volunteered the that Villers Bretonneux was to be attacked the next day. The 5th Australian Division, which had come line on the night of the 6th/7th April, and held the sector from Villers Bretonneux (inclusive) to the Somme canal was warned to be ready to retake the town, if captured by attack from the north ; and other preparations and counter-preparations were made. About 4 A.M. on the 17th, Villers Bretonneux, Bois d'Aquenne, to the west of it and the village of Cachy, to the south, were heavily drenched for three hours with phosgene, mustard and irritant gasses. But no assault followed. As soon as possible the local garrison, consisting of the 6/London(58 Dvn) and the 33rd Australian Battalion, was got out of the shelters in the town into the trenches around it. The gas shelling was repeated in the evening from 4 to 7 P.M., next morning and on the following days, being increased so as to include Bois I'Abbe, but with greatly reduced results. Nevertheless it was impossible for anyone to move that area without feeling some ill-effects from the mustard gas, and there were, in all, 1,074 gas casualties.’
’The gassing of Villers Bretonneux seemed to point to the probability of its not being attacked, but by this time air photographs had revealed the signs of imminent operations; an increase in the number of enemy batteries had also been noticed, while the roads were being registered by German artillery. There were, however, also indications that the Albert sector might be the objective of an attack which might extend to Arras and Vimy Ridge. On the 21st there was much air fighting near the Somme, and the famous airman Richthofen was brought down. That night a man of the 4th Guard Division, captured by the 8th Dvn , disclosed the fact that his formation had just relieved the 9th Bavarian Reserve Division in front of Marcelcave , and would attack Villers Bretonneux at 3 A.M. on the 23rd. Counter-preparations were continued, and the German railway centres were bombed, particularly Chaulnes. 'No infantry assault materialized on the 23rd, two deserters came in from the 77th Reserve Division, just arrived from Russia, which had entered the line on 20th, south of the 4th Guard Division, opposite Cachy, and the French captured a gunner of the Guard Ersatz Division opposite Hangard. All these men said that the relief of the line divisions by " storm " divisions had been completed. The infantry were ready to advance; the bombardment would begin early on the 24th and. last two and-a-quarter hours: and the attack would be assisted by new German tanks, which were already in position near the front line. It is from the fact that tanks were used to punch a hole in the British line on either side of Villers Bretonneux, and that, in consequence, the Germans gained possession of the town and ground on either side for a short time, that the fighting on the 24th derives its interest.’
William was transfered to the 33rd Battalion when the 36th Battalion was disbanded on the 30th of April 1918.
On the 19th May 1918 William was treated by 9th Australian Field Ambulance and evacuated to the Australian Casualty Clearing Station suffering from Defective Vision and after being treated he was discharged to duty on the 21st of May. After 3 months of action William was reported Missing in Action on the 22nd of August 1918 but was later that day confirmed as Killed in Action at Villers-Bretonneux, France.
William is remembered with honour and is commemerated in perpetuity by the Commonweath War Graves Commission. Australian National Memorial, Villers-Bretonneux, France.
Studio photo of William was auctioned in June 2004 and is now in the BROOK's Collection, Sydney, N.S.W.
William was a 35 year old Trainer from Newcastle upon enlistment. His Mother Alice Phillips was listed as his next of kin who lived at Victoria Street, Adamstown, Newcastle, New South Wales. His parents William and Alice Phillips had a least 6 children, 3 boys and 3 girls. William Reese Phillips born 1876 at Newcastle, N.S.W. Birth Cert:16192/1876 and died in 1951 at newcastle, N.S.W. Death Cert:19691/1951. Walter H Phillips born 1878 at Newcastle, N.S.W Birth Cert:17811/1878 and died in 1886 at Hamilton, N.S.W. Death Cert:12697/1886. Tamar Phillips born 1880 at Newcastle, N.S.W. Birth Cert:19868/1880. William Phillips born 1882 at Newcastle, N.S.W. Birth Cert:24386/1882 and died in 1918 at Villers-Bretonneux, France. Alice Phillips born 1884 at Newcastle, N.S.W. Birth Cert:28364/1884. Mary E Phillips born 1886 at Newcastle, N.S.W. Birth Cert:30119.1886.
(Australian National Archives)
Under Construction 05/04/2008
