Phillip James Clover was born in North Fremantle, Western Australia, on 11 August 1938, the son of Harold and Catherine (nee Phillips) Clover. He grew up in the Gnangara Pine Plantation where his father was the Head Ranger and nearby Swan Valley where he attended state school. Although austere, his childhood was one of adventure and action: he rode brumbies, drove vehicles, and used old service radios. His first experience of the Army was as a Cadet at Midland High School. At 15 years-of-age Phil joined the Regular Army as 58583 on 19 January 1953 and five days later commenced training at the Army Apprentices School at Balcombe on Victoria’s Mornington Peninsular. Qualifying as a Telecommunications Mechanic (and later as a Radar Mechanic) Phil was posted to the Southern Command Workshop. On 13 January 1957 Phil commenced Officer Training at OCS Portsea, graduating on 13 December that year. He was allocated to the Signals Corps, firstly as a Troop Officer, then a Troop Commander. Various Signals postings followed until on 5 April 1965, by now a Captain, Phil marched in to the Officer Training Unit, Scheyville, as one of the original members of the ‘Directing Staff’ of the OTU. Twelve months later Phil left OTU and prepared for a ‘tour’ of Vietnam. He served there from 20 May 1966 to 20 May 1967 with 709 Signals Troop.
On return to Australia Phil was posted to the School of Signals at Balcombe. While on Long Term Studies, on the Australian Army Staff at Washington (Right: Phil and Margaret in the US), on 31 December 1970 Phil was promoted to Major. In 1973 he undertook a year at the Australian Staff College at Queenscliff, Victoria. In late 1976 he returned to Western Australia with postings to 5 Field Force Group and HQ, 5th Military District. After 26 years of service Phil resigned from the Army on 13 August 1979. However, his skills were not to be lost to the Army as Phil transferred to the Army Reserve serving as Officer Commanding 109 Signals Squadron, the Western Australia University Regiment and 5 Training Group before his retirement on 12 February 1986. Post-Army Phil worked in the security industry which was the impetus for his involvement in the union movement. At the end of his work life, he served as Vice-President of the LHMWU. He was a past member and Treasurer of the 2/16th Battalion Association. Phillip had profound respect for and devotion to honour those who served the battalion in its history. He trekked the Kokoda Track three times (right) with a deep understanding of its history. His research, knowledge and discoveries assisted in the publication of the Field Guide to the Kokoda Track. Phil was a member of the Highgate RSL Sub-branch in Perth and attended WA Chapter OTU activities until resigning from the RSL in 2019 due to his failing health. Phil died on 10 January 2023. His funeral was held on 31 January 2023. Phillip had lost his wife Margaret in 2017 and is survived by his 4 children and partners, 14 grandchildren and 5 great grandchildren. Phil’s daughter Jill Taylor wrote: ‘Phillip would likely have listed highlights of his long career to be his deployments to Vietnam and the United States, his command postings at 103 and 109 Signal Squadrons, and his training postings at OTU Scheyville and the School of Signals.’