THE LAST DIGGER

Evening Star, Issue 20109, 25 February 1929, Page 7

THE LAST DIGGER

RETURN FROM FRANCE An Australian soldier, in civilian clothes, who arrived at Victoria Station on January 23 has made history. He was Major Phillips, who finally left France, being Ihe last Australian on active service as a Digger. Major Phillips served in the war and (hen spent seven years as Australian officer on Iho War Giavcs Commission. Ho is Known to thousands of Australians, particularly lo post-war visitors to tho battlefields, several of whom he and Mrs Phillips entertained at their bungalow at Albert, where (hey lived for seven years, near tho famous church, which the Germans shattered. Major Phillips played an important part in the building of the cemeteries where Australian soldiers are buried. He saw thousands of bodies recovered, and directed operations which resulted in the shell-swept battlefields becoming beautifully laid-out cemeteries. Ho was instrumental in identifying many soldiers who had been posted as missing for years, and returning their identification discs to relatives m Australia. Mrs Phillips, who was practically I lie only British woman living on the bailiefields, says that she is overjoyed to return to England and to once again have English food.