Brown, Michael

No.776 – Private Michael Brown – 12^th Battalion AIF

Michael Brown was born in Cork Ireland in 1883 though he would grow up in the Lancashire area. After he left school he joined the army and served with the Lancashire Regiment. After completing his time in the army he moved to Australia where he moved in with his cousin who lived in Howard Street South Fremantle. Michael took up work as a labourer though when war was declared he wasted no time in enlisting into the AIF. On the 14^th September 1914 Michael offered his services and was accepted into the AIF.

Dr Edward Brennan, formerly of Fremantle Hospital, gave Michael his medical examination and found him to be 5 feet 6 inches in height; weight of 126 lbs; chest measurement of 35 inches; fair complexion; brown eyes and brown hair. He also had a tattoo of crossed swords on his right forearm.

After being passed as fit Michael was assigned to G Company of the newly forming 12^th Battalion AIF. This group trained at Blackboy Hill camp until they embarked from Fremantle on the H.M.A.T. “Medic” on the 2^nd November 1914. After arriving in Egypt, the company system was changed from 8 companies to 4 so the two Western Australian Companies, G&H, now became D Company. In Egypt the men set up camp at Mena until early March 1915 when the 3^rd Brigade embarked for Lemnos Island.

Further training was conducted on Lemnos for the men to get them ready for a sea borne landing on the Turkish coast as the 3^rd Brigade would be the first to land of the Australians. While the 9^th, 10^th & 11^th Battalions would each have a sector to capture, the 12^th Battalion would be split up to provide support for these three battalions. Michael’s D Company would support the 11^th Battalion.

On April 25^th 1915, the Australians landed on the Turkish coast at what would become known as Anzac Cove. D Company, supporting the 11^th, landed in the vicinity of Plugges Plateau to North Beach. Many of the 12^th were drawn into the fighting at around Quinn’s Post and Baby 700 under Captain Lalor. Unfortunately there is no trace of what happened to Michael Brown. The battalion list only mentions that he was missing between the 25^th to 28^th April though it is likely he was killed around the Baby 700 sector. Michael’s body was not recovered and so he is commemorated on the Lone Pine Memorial.

His sister, Mrs. Nellie Metcalfe of Skeffington Rd Preston Lancashire would receive Michael’s war medals.

Photo below from the Army Museum of Western Australia showing the WA Companies of the 12th Battalion in Egypt. Michael Brown is in the photo