Harrison, Phillip Harry
No.100 – Private Philip Harry Harrison – 16th Battalion AIF
Philip Harry Harrison was born in Ballarat Victoria in 1891 to Thomas and Martha Harrison. The family soon moved to Western Australia and took up residence in Perth and Philip was educated at Leederville Public school. The family soon moved south to Naval Base South Fremantle. Philip went on to find work as a Mill Hand and Timber Worker at Jarrahdale.
On the 10th September 1914 Philip enlisted into the AIF. He was medically examined and passed as fit with the examiner finding him to be 5 feet 4 inches in height; weight of 128 lbs; chest measurement of 35-37 inches; fair complexion; grey hair and brown eyes. His religious denomination was Church of England. Philip was allotted to “C” Company of the 16th Battalion AIF with the regimental no.100. The 16th Battalion trained in WA until November when they were transferred to Victoria to join the other battalions of the 4th Infantry Brigade. They trained at Broadmeadows Camp until late December 1914.
On the 22nd December the 16th Battalion boarded the transport ship H.M.A.T. “Ceramic” and set sail for Egypt. After arriving there in January the men were disembarked and sent for training near Cairo. They remained here until early April 1915 and were then sent to Lemnos Island to join the other Australian, New Zealand, British and French troops who would be landing on the Turkish coast. On April 25th 1915 this attack took place with the Australians landing at Anzac Cove.
The 16th Battalion landed toward evening on April 25th and were drawn into the fighting at Popes Hill. The next few days saw them in action at Dead Man’s Ridge and Quinn’s Post and they had large casualties. Philip survived these actions but his role as a signaller for his Company kept him very busy.
Philip remained at Gallipoli through May, June and July and into August. On August 6th/7th the allied advance took place, and the 16th Battalion were involved in the unsuccessful advance towards Hill 971. At some stage during the 7th August 1915 advance Philip was killed in action. Unfortunately his body was not recovered and so he is commemorated on the Lone Pine Memorial. His father in South Fremantle received a pension of 30/- per fortnight after his son’s death.