Phillip Davey VC, MM, was an indefatigable Australian World War I hero. Joining the Australian Imperial Force at the age of 19, he fought at Gallipoli and on the Western Front, earning many honours, including the Victoria Cross, for his initiative and bravery.
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Join MemoriesMary Carr Phillip Davey was the fourth of five sons born to William George Davey, carpenter, and his wife Elizabeth, née O'Neill. All five would serve in World War One, although Phillip's older brother Claude would lose his life on the battlefield.
Mary Carr Just before Christmas, 1914, the 19-year-old Phillip enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force. See his full Attestation Paper: https://discoveringanzacs.naa.gov.au/browse/records/99698
Mary Carr Posted to the 2nd reinforcements to the 10th Australian Infantry Battalion, 3rd Infantry Brigade, Phillip embarked for Egypt on HMAT Clan McGillivray, which departed from Melbourne in the Summer of 1915.
Mary Carr Just before dawn on the 25th of April, Phillip's Brigade rowed ashore at Anzac Cove, Gallipoli. So began four historic days of heavy fighting in which Phillip played his part, before being engaged in trench fighting thereafter.
Mary Carr Suffering from enteric fever, the last in several bouts of illness, Phillip was evacuated to Egypt in November.
Mary Carr Phillip was repatriated from Egypt to Australia.
Mary Carr Recovered from his illness, by June Phillip was ready to return to his Division. He re-embarked from Melbourne on board HMAT Barambah A3 with the 10th Battalion's 18th reinforcement.
Mary Carr With the 10th Battalion, Phillip fought at Mouquet Farm on the Western Front. This strategically important location had been heavily fortified by the Germans, and was already the scene of thousands of allied casualties.
Mary Carr At the Somme, the 2nd Division were a key part of the planned "winter offensive", the "spear thrust" into the enemy. Phillip and his Division fought here in brutal conditions: it was the coldest winter in living memory, and autumn rain had turned the place into a quagmire.
Mary Carr While in camp, Phillip sustained an accidental wound to the hand from a hand grenade. Even so, he returned to duty just a month later.
Mary Carr Phillip was promoted to Lance Corporal, 10th Infantry Battalion, while fighting at Bullecourt, France.
Mary Carr In September, Phillip's Battalion was committed to the Battle of Menin Road at Polygon Wood. The following month, he was gassed while the 10th Battalion was relieving troops in the front-line near Westhoek Ridge in Belgium. He was back with his unit by early November.
Mary Carr On a winter's night at the start of 1918, Phillip rescued a wounded soldier under heavy fire — and a bright moon. He was recommended for the Military Medal for bravery in the field for his efforts. The recommendation read: "On the night of 3 January 1918, near Warneton, when on patrol one of our men was badly wounded by machine gun fire. On seeing this from a forward post, L/Cpl Davey crawled out through our wire to a distance of 60 yards and with another NCO brought in the wounded man. This was done under a bright moon and under heavy enemy machine gun fire. The work of this NCO was greatly admired by his officers and all who witnessed it."
Mary Carr Phillip was awarded the Military Medal for bravery in the field, after saving his fellow soldier on that early January night in Blegium.
Mary Carr Phillip was promoted to Corporal, and transferred to the permanent cadre Overseas Training Brigade, Tidworth UK, as an instructor. In June he returned to his unit on his request.
Mary Carr During a "peaceful penetration" operation near Merris, France, Phillip showed heroic bravery and initiative — and saved his platoon from "annihilation". The report of the incident reads, "In a daylight operation against the enemy position, his platoon advanced 200 yards, capturing part of the enemy line, and while the platoon was consolidating, the enemy pushed a machine gun forward under cover of a hedge and opened fire from close range, inflicting heavy casualties and hampering work. "Alone, Corporal Davey moved forward in the face of a fierce point-blank fire, and attacked the gun with hand grenades, putting half of the crew out of action. Having used all the available grenades he returned to the original jumping-off trench, secured a further supply, and again attacked the gun, the crew of which had in the meantime been reinforced. He killed the crew, eight in all, and captured the gun. "This very gallant NCO then mounted the gun in the new post, and used it in repelling a determined counterattack, during which he was severely wounded. By his determination, Corporal Davey saved the platoon from annihilation, and made it possible to consolidate and hold a position of vital importance to the success of the whole operation."
Mary Carr Phillip was awarded the Victoria Cross, the highest award for gallantry in battle that can be awarded to a member of the Australian armed forces. Read the full citation for his award: https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/awm-media/collection/RCDIG1068447/document/5504135.PDF The news was reported in Melbourne's Herald newspaper on August 19.
Mary Carr Having recovered sufficiently from wounds to his back, abdomen and legs sustained in Merris, Phillip was able to receive his Victoria Cross at a ceremony at Buckingham Palace, England. Fellow VC recipient, Arthur Blackburn, would later remark, "I think all agree that no VC was ever better earned than Phil Davey's". Phillip embarked for Australia aboard HMS Commonwealth in October.
Mary Carr Back on home soil, Phillip was discharged from the Australian Imperial Forces, a highly decorated war hero. As well as his Military Medal and Victoria Cross, he had received the 1914–15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medals for his service. Today his medal set is displayed in the Hall of Valour at the Australian War Memorial in Canberra.
Mary Carr Phillip began working as a labourer and linesman with the Signals and Telegraph Branch of the South Australian Railways, a role he would hold periodically until February, 1946.
Mary Carr Phillip married Eugene Agnes Tomlinson.
Mary Carr Phillip was awarded the King George VI Coronation Medal on the occasion of the coronation of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth.
Mary Carr Phillip was awarded the Queen Elizabeth II Coronation Medal in 1952 to celebrate the monarch's coronation in June 1953.
Mary Carr Phillip passed away just days before Christmas, 1953, at the age of 57 years. Having suffered for many years with bronchitis and emphysema, he died of a coronary occlusion. Phillip was buried with full military honours at Repat Hospital, Springbank, South Australia.