B72890 Pte Phillips, G. E. enlisted with the 48th Highlanders of Canada in September 1939 for overseas service with the 1st Battalion. He embarked in Halifax on 18 December 1939 with the battalion on the Reina del Pacifico.  In England on 30 Dec 1940 he attended the Drill Instructors Course at the Guards Depot the the Platoon Weapons Course at Bisley, Caterham on 19 January 1941.  He was promoted LCpl, then Cpl and  made Acting Lance Sergeant effective 28 April 1943 as a Platoon Sergeant in Able Company as the battalion prepared to sail for the landings at Pachino, Sicily on 9 July 1943. On 13 June, during training in Gourock Scotland doing landings from LCIs (Landing craft Infantry) before embarking for Sicily, a quote on pages 197 and 198 of our regimental history Dileas states:

“Those who tried to land from the deeper-draft LCIs had an even rougher experience. They jumped from the scramble nets directly into deep water; the ungainly craft could not draw close to the shelving beach. Several Highlanders narrowly escaped drowning. Padre East, an old water-polo player did great work and so did Capt Fred Skinner, the MO, another inter-collegiate swimmer. He had to apply artificial respiration on Pte Rioulx and Sjt George Phillips.; The latter was able to return to the Derbyshire. “

In Sicily he was confirmed as Sergeant effective 29 July 43 the same day he was sent to 4 Field Ambulance following the battle for Nissoria.

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