56348 Private Phillip Samuel Jane - 11th Battalion AIF
Phillip Samuel Jane was born in Eaglehawk Victoria on the 17th April 1877 to Simon and Charlotte Jane, being one of ten siblings.
In his early years, he was an Apprentice Tailor to the Denton brothers in Bendigo for five years.
The family moved to the WA Goldfields in the late 1890's. In 1907 he married in East Coolgardie to Veronica Cecilia (Vera) Gartrell and they had a son called Cedric born in East Coolgardie in 1910. After Cedric's birth the family soon moved to Fremantle.
From 1913 to 1918 the family was living at 76 Mandurah Rd South Fremantle and Phillip was continuing his career as a Tailor.
On the 21st January 1918 Albert enlisted into the Australian Imperial Force in Fremantle. He was found to be fit for enlistment, with the medical examiner recording Phillip's physical attributes as;
Height - 5 feet 11 & 1/2 inches tall;
Weight - 141lbs;
Chest Measurement - 33-35 inches;
Complexion - Dark;
Eyes - Blue;
Hair - Light Gray.
Upon his successful enlistment, Phillip was sent to Blackboy Hill Camp where he was assigned to the depot training camp. He was taken through the basics of infantry work for a few months and on the 7th July 1918 was assigned to the General Western Reinforcements. This group embarked from Albany WA on the 29th July 1918 aboard the transport ship HMAT Marathon.
The ship arrived in England on the 27th September 1918 and Phillip was allotted to the 1st Training Battalion at Fovant Camp. He would spend the next few months training here and would be assigned to the 11th Battalion. However when the Armistice was announced on the 11th November 1918, Phillip was still in camp in England. He would eventually be sent to France on the 28th January 1919.
Phillip would spend a month with the 11th Battalion in France but was then detached for duty with the Australian Army Pay Corps. This work took him to France and then London with the AIF HQ.
In August 1919 Phillip was granted Non Military Employment with a Tailors Cutting Course in Oxford Street London. This took place from August to October 1919.
He then left England in December 1919 aboard the transport ship Kongin Louise and set sail for home, arriving at Fremantle on the 28th January 1920. He was discharged from the AIF on the 20th February 1920.
He then returned to his Tailoring business and was still living at 76 Mandurah Road. In the 1930's the family moved to 78 Carrington St East Fremantle/Palmyra.
Phillip was a City of Melville Councillor from 1926-1928 and 1931-1939. He would later have a park named after him in Leeming within the City of Melville.
Despite his age, Phillip also saw service during World War Two. Enlisting in October 1939 he was accepted for service and given the regimental number W243132. Phillip would serve in the 10th Garrison Battalion. Though he was soon discharged due to his age.
Phillip died on the 18th August 1960 in Fremantle aged 83. He was buried in Fremantle Cemetery plot Congregational MON DD 0057.
