OCS, Portsea - Graduating Class of June 1973

Brigadier John Phillips

John Phillips was born at Echuca in Victoria on 26 Nov 43. The son of a bank manager his early years prior to entering the Royal Military College, Duntroon in 1961 were spent in the Riverina at a variety of schools. He graduated to the Royal Regiment of Australian Artillery in 1964 and served in a regimental, training and staff postings, including a tour of South Viet Nam in 1967-1968 as a forward observer with 7^th Battalion Royal Australian Regiment before being posted to the Officer Cadet School of Australia, Portsea as a company commander. Major Phillips was a thoughtful artilleryman in an infantry oriented environment. He had a holistic approach to assessing cadets, forgiving faults which could be compensated for by strengths in other areas of a cadet’s make up. Not quite a larrikin he adopted a steady-as-she-goes approach and worried if a cadet appeared to lack a sense of humour, unconcerned (or unaware) about the awe cadets held for the Board of Studies, the worry of which wiped away many a smile from youthful faces. After leaving Portsea Major Phillips joined 101st Field Battery, 1^st Field Regiment at Wacol outside Brisbane filling the role of Battery Commander (BC), a position vacant during most of 1973. The new Battery Commander lifted the status of the 101 Battery within the Regiment, off setting the imbalance caused between 101 and 105 by 101’s lack of a BC. Two class of June 1973 graduates, Second Lieutenants David Otton (101) and Chris Donkin (105) served in the Regiment with Major Phillips. He was later posted to the United Kingdom where he renewed contact with Otton then serving in the Scots Guards. Lieutenant Colonel Phillips went on to command 8^th/12^th Medium Regiment at Holsworthy and retired at the rank of Brigadier in 1991.

In civilian life he became Executive Director of the National Institute of Landscape Architects based in Canberra. The family lived in the suburb of Weetangera where John took up stamp collecting. John died of a stroke on 16 Apr 01 and his funeral service was held at Duntroon Chapel on 19 Apr 01 followed by cremation. Brigadier John Jansen, a classmate of John Phillips at Duntroon delivered the eulogy. Brigadier Jansen commanded 105 Battery at the same time John commanded 101 Battery. John is survived by his widow Carolyn and children Michelle, Kate and Michael.