Lieutenant Philip Edward Michael Vowels
- Rank
- Lieutenant
- Service number
- 729
- Decorations
- Military Cross and Bar
- Unit
- 11 Battalion
- Cause of death
- Killed in Action
- Place of death
- France
- Date of death
- 11 May 1918
- Age
- 26
- Plaque number
- M701A
- Co-located plaques
- M701 - CPL Henry Austin
- Dedicated by
- Family on 15 August 2015
- More information
Biography presented during plaque dedication:
Lieutenant Phillip Edward Vowels MC and Bar was born in Victoria in 1891 to Bridget and William Vowels.
There were eleven siblings in the family and they took up residence at William Street after moving to Perth.
Phillip had attended St Michael’s school in Horsham, Victoria, prior to coming to Western Australia and it was here that he continued the occupation of ironmonger.
He also served five years in a citizens’ infantry regiment before joining the Australian Imperial Force on 7 September 1914, on the outbreak of World War One.
With the rank of sergeant, he was allocated to F Company in 11 Battalion. Following their initial training, at Blackboy Hill Military Camp, the unit embarked aboard HMAT Ascanius on 2 November 1914.
After further training in Egypt, the battalion was one of the first ashore at Gallipoli.
In August 1915, Phillip was appointed 2nd Lieutenant and on the evacuation of Gallipoli proceeded to France with the battalion. Here he was wounded in action, with gunshot wounds to the legs and hospitalised.
On re-joining the battalion, he was again wounded and carried off to hospital.
Returning to the battalion he was again wounded in action with severe gunshot wounds to the arm, which saw him in the 3rd London General Hospital Wandsworth where he was finally discharged in May 1917. It was during this period that he was appointed lieutenant.
On re-joining the battalion in the field in August 1917 he was awarded the Military Cross, followed by a bar to the Military Cross. The awards were for two separate actions led by Philip.
They were for conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty in the capture of enemy machine guns and the taking of prisoners under heavy fire. He showed coolness and determination on both occasions.
Lieutenant Phillip Edward Vowels MC and Bar, service number 729 of 11 Battalion, was killed in action in France, on 11 May 1918.
He was 27 years of age and is buried in Barre British Cemetery, Hazebrouk, France.