In 1895, James Wallace McPhillamy was born into a pioneering family near Albury, his father being John Sydney McPhillamy , a grazier, and mother Annie Mary Josephine Serong. At the time of his enlistment on 9 February, 1917, John was working as an Overseer, possibly on the family property. His father was deceased at this point. John had 3 years Cadet expereience, was single and 21 years old when he enlisted. In 1917, his mother was residing in Victoria Parade, East Melbourne.

John's service commenced with 1 month's training as a gunner with the Artillery unit at Maribynong,  followed by joining the Field Artillery Brigade also at Maribynong. On 9 November 1917 he embarked from Melbourne on the HMAS Port Sydney A15, arriving at Suez mid December. A week later he embarked from Alexandria to London via Taranto (Italy). Just after his arrival in the UK, John was hospitalised for 3 weeks at the V.M.H Sutton. Early February, 1918 he was discharged to the Australian General Base Depot (AGBD). In July 1918 he transferred to the AGBD in Roulles, France. On 12 October, 1918 he was admitted to a Field hospital having been gassed, then sent back to England for treatment at the No.5 Australian General Hospital. In November he was discharged from hospital and granted temporary leave before being invalided back to Australia late December, 1918 on the 'Orontes'.

Electoral records indicate John McPhillamy returned to the land and was a grazier near Wagga Wagga until he moved to Manly in 1954. He married Grace Diamond Condon in Cowra in 1947. He passed away on 5th May 1974 in Manly.