2/Lt John Arthur Phillips RFC

[stevenbecker]

Mates,

I was wondering if you have any record as to why this officer was sent home as invalided?

What I have on him;

PHILLIPS    John Arthur    112    Pte    1 LH Bde Trn    5Co AASC remain Egypt to Cpl Requistion sect (from jones) 12-15 att WFF 1-16 to Sgt 24 D/US 4-16 to Wo1 5-16 disch to RFC prom 2/Lt to ROTC No 3 SMA Oxford disch from RFC RTA invalided cause unknown possibly crashed disch 1-18    

Clerk    25    Brisbane Qld    

Enl 20-8-14    disch 16-3-17 & possibly disch or RTA 14-11-17   or disch 1-18

Nok Brisbane Qld

The AIF side is covered in his records but not what happened once he joined the RFC until he returned either late 1917 or early 1918

Any ideas

S.B

[charlie962]

This is probably his record at National Archives but not digitised se needs someone to visit.

WO 339/89770

[Errol Martyn]

39 minutes ago, charlie962 said:

This is probably his record at National Archives but not digitised se needs someone to visit.

WO 339/89770

Or, if not close by TNA, have ARCRE's Lee Richards photograph and provide a copy of the file at a modest cost.

Errol

[Tawhiri]

Courtesy of airhistory.org and the Gazette, he resigned his commission on 15 November 1917, with no reasons given.

https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/30379/supplement/11766

Unfortunately I can't find anything else in the usual places beyond what you already have. His officer's record at the National Archives would look to be your best bet.

[frev]

Steve - for your interest...

PHILLIPS, John Arthur
https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/ViewImage.aspx?B=1989507

Born 6/10/1889 Cairns, Qld – son of John Allen (of Qld Railways) & Maude Rachel Alice (nee Elliott)
Auctioneers Clerk

National Leader (Brisbane, Qld), Fri 12 Jan 1917 (p.5):
From Near and Far
A member of the Phillips family “doing his bit” at the front is a nephew of Mr and Mrs Phillips, of Edge Hills, Taringa. At the beginning of the war Mr Arthur Phillips, who was then in his uncle’s office in Brisbane, joined the A.S.C. attached to the Light Horse. After working up to the rank of sergeant, and seeing no chance of active service, he exchanged into the A.I.F., and went to Gallipoli, and later to France, giving up his stripes to do so. Over there he was promoted to first-class warrant officer, and was expecting his commission when a chance came of getting into the Flying Corps. He applied, and was one of three Australians chosen, and now has his commission.

The Telegraph (Brisbane, Qld), Sat 3 Feb 1917 (p.14):
Ladies Page
Mr John Arthur Phillips, late warrant officer, A.I.F., eldest son of Mr J.A. Phillips, of the Railway Department, Cairns, has arrived from France, to attend a pilot’s course in the R.F.C. (says the “British Australasian” of 30th November). Before beginning work with the R.F.C., he has been visiting relatives in Bradford-on-Avon, Bristol, and Swansea.
https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/176388878

The Brisbane Courier (Qld), Fri 7 Dec 1917 (p.8):
PERSONAL NOTES
Mr A.S. Phillips, of Queen-street, has received a cablegram from his nephew, Lieutenant J.A. (Arthur) Phillips, of the Royal Engineers (late Royal Flying Corps), stating that he is returning to Brisbane, and will probably arrive about the middle of January.

States in a letter on page 31 of his NAA AIF service record that he returned to Australia on the Medic, arriving Melbourne Jan 1918

Townsville Daily Bulletin (Qld), Tue 12 Feb 1918 (p.4):
The Great War
One of the passengers by the Bingera on Monday from South was Mr J.A. Phillips, formerly a stationmaster in the Southern Division, but who has been on active service. Joining the Light Horse, he saw service at Gallipoli, and afterwards went to France, and from there joined the Flying Corps in England. His experience in the latter wing of the service includes a fall of 3000 feet, the effects of which caused him to be invalided, though he shows no outward signs of injury. Mr Phillips is paying a short visit to the North.
https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/62267872

The Brisbane Courier (Qld) Sat 8 Jun 1918 (p.4):
MARRIAGES
PHILLIPS – DU RIETZ – On May 8th, at St Brigid’s Retreat, Marrickville, by the Rev. Father Cass….Maguire, Lieut John Arthur Phillips (late Royal Flying Corps), eldest son of Mr J.A. Phillips,
Queensland Railways, to Sigrid Eileen Maria, only daughter of Mr an Mrs Arthur F. Du Rietz, of Marrickville, New South Wales.
https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/20230246
The bridegroom, who was in uniform, was attended by his brother (also in uniform), Mr W.H.C. Phillips (of the Royal Naval Transport Service) as best man.

Living Norman Park (Bulimba), Qld 1925 (Auctioneer)
Living Mosman, NSW 1934 (Coy Director)

Died on the 22/1/1944 at his home in Clifton Gardens – Coy Director

[stevenbecker]

Frev,

Thank you again.

I had a first thought it was a crash, but he like many who transfered found they didn't like flying

Cheers