Bennett, Philip

Phillip Lyell Bennett was born in Lyell, Buller on 30 March 1898 and was educated at Nelson College. He served in World War I and saw action in the Middle East, Gallipoli and France. He was awarded the Military cross in 1918.

After the war ended he tried growing coffee in British East India before returning to New Plymouth in 1921 where he joined the Victoria Insurance Company. He married Nancy Margaret Pharazyn in 1924 and was living in New Plymouth by 1929 where he was the manager of the Victoria Insurance Company.

He and his wife had a beautiful Georgian Revival style home built at 91 Belt Rd, which is still standing today.

In January 1940 he again signed up to the Army and was appointed Quartermaster to the 25th (Wellington) Battalion as Captain and sailed to the Middle East. He was invalided back home in July 1941 after a car accident but returned to service in June 1942 with the 14th brigade in Fiji. In May 1943 he was promoted to Lieutenant-Colonel and then promoted to Colonel and was awarded a D.S.O after the Green Island landing.

After the war he returned to New Plymouth, before moving to Tauranga and becoming an orchardist in 1949. He died in 22 February 1978.