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Phillip Garling - Information

Phillip was born in Camden c1879 to Clarence William and Mary Katherine Garling, where they resided for some time. The Garlings eventually relocated to the City, to 107 Spencer Rd in Mosman. Sadly, Clarence passed away, while Phillip added to the family, marrying Ellen Margaret Lowry. Phillip and Ellen made a home at 7 Vernon St in East Balmain. By this time, Phillip had completed a 4 year apprenticeship in Liverpool and started to support his family working as a sailor. At the age of 36, Phillip enlisted in the AIF on the 4th of July 1915 in Liverpool, joining up just a month after his younger brother, Leslie. During his training, Phillip was designated to the 4th Reinforcements, 20th Battalion as a Private. He was then sent overseas onboard the HMAT Argyllshire which departed Sydney Harbour on the 30th of September 1915.

Phillip disembarked in Egypt, and shortly joined the 20th Battalion at Gallipoli in early November. He endured the resentful blizzard which ravaged Anzac Cove. After the Campaign was called off, Phillip and his unit were transported back to Egypt, arriving in January 1916. They then left Alexandria in mid March for Marseilles in France. After a quiet introduction into trench warfare, in what was known as The Nursery. Phillip and his mates were shifted for operations during the Somme Offensive. The 20th attacked the Germans at the village of Pozières, where Phillip was wounded on the 4th of August plummeting to the ground with a gun shot wound to his right leg. The hit was severe, the bullet fractured the tibia. A week later, he was evacuated to England on the Hospital Ship Panama, sailing from Havre. He was admitted to the 3rd London General Hospital in Wandsworth. His leg was badly injured, and unfortunately could not be saved. It was amputated from the thigh. At the end of March 1917, he was transferred to the 2nd Auxiliary Hospital in Southall to recuperate. Sadly, while he was being treated in hospital, two of his brothers were killed in action. His brother Frederick, who was serving in the Canadian Army was killed during the Battle of Vimy Ridge. Leslie was then killed in action during the Battle of Messines in June 1917. Towards the end of the year, Phillip was granted a medical discharge. He was sent back to Australia on the 1st of November 1917. Once he reached Sydney, he was given further medical treatment, before being discharged in July 1918. He returned to his lovely bride Ellen, and his devastated mother and siblings. Phillip got on with his life, and by 1933, was residing at 194 Ernest St in North Sydney.