About to turn ninety-nine, Mr Phillips signed up to the Army the day after his eighteenth birthday.
Thrust straight into the depths of World War II, Commodore Dowton, who presented Mr Philips with a 75 th Anniversary Commemorative medal, spoke of the amazing life he had led, including being shot at by a Japanese sniper resulting in the loss of an ear tip.
In Europe, the Germans surrendered on the May 7, 1945. Australian prisoners of war in European prison camps were then liberated and Australian sailors and aircrew began returning home.
“This was a war like no other in history,” RSL Sub-Branch vice president Mel Kingston said.
“With Australians fighting in theatres of war across the globe from Europe to North Africa, the Mediterranean and the Middle East, to Asia and the Pacific.
“And for the first time, the conflict even reached the Australian mainland.”
In 2020, the 75th Anniversary Commemorative Service was an opportunity for all Australians to pause, reflect and acknowledge the service and sacrifice of more than 39,000 who lost their lives and some 30,000 taken as prisoners of war.
It was a special time to remember those who made their contribution in service on the home front.
“Mr Phillips is a very special person and we owe people like him a great deal of debt and gratitude,” CMDR Dowton said.
Last year the Department of Veteran Affairs produced a commemorative medallion to acknowledge the significance of the 75th anniversary of the end of WWII.
“We are fortunate to have a very special veteran as part of the RSL Sub-Branch who fought with the 47th Infantry Battalion in Bougainville during the Second World War,” Ms Kingston said.
“We only recently received the commemorative medallions, and we thought that ANZAC Day, especially with CMDR Dowton here as our guest, was an opportune time for V511992 CPL Thomas Douglas Phillips to be presented with his.”
Mr Phillips appreciated receiving the medal saying, “I’ve enjoyed the experiences I’ve had in the army. I’ve just been lucky to survive this long.”
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