Chipper, Michael

No.6243 – Private Michael Chipper – 16^th Battalion AIF

Michael Mineralup Chipper was born in Kojonup WA in 1879 to Thomas and Maria Elizabeth Chipper. He grew up and went to school in the Kojonup area and later served for 6 months in the Imperial Light Horse. In the 1900’s Michael was working as a miner in the Fimiston region of Kalgoorlie but prior to the First World War he was working as a baggage agent in Fremantle and was living in Point Street and Cantonment Street area. His father had died in 1903 but his mother was residing at 130 Hampton Rd Fremantle.

On the 1^st March 1916 Michael offered his services to the AIF. He was passed as fit and his medical examination found him to be 5 feet 6 ½ inches tall; weight of 150 lbs; chest measurement of 35-37 inches; ruddy complexion; grey eyes and black hair. His religious denomination was Roman Catholic. Initially allotted to No.57 Depot, Michael was soon transferred to the 20^th Reinforcements to the 16^th Battalion. This group trained in WA until October 1916. They embarked on the H.M.A.T. “Suffolk” from Fremantle Harbour on the 9^th October 1916 and arrived at Plymouth England on the 2^nd December 1916. They were marched into the 4^th Training Battalion on the Salisbury Plains though their stay here was short as on the 29^th December 1916 they were sent to France. Once they arrived at Etaples they were marched into the 4^th Australian Division Base Depot where they were to stay until the 5^th February 1917. Michael was then sent to the 16^th Battalion, officially being taken on strength of this unit on the 11^th February 1917.

Michael’s stay with the 16^th would only be of short duration as he was killed during the disastrous attack on Bullecourt on the 11^th April 1917. Michael was initially reported missing though an investigation soon showed people who had witnessed his death. A Private Preston stated that he had seen Michael lying dead in the first German trench, having being hit by machine gun fire. L/Cpl Parsons stated that;

“Pte Chipper was shot through the head and fell into my arms. He died after about three quarters of an hour. This was at Reincourt on the 11^th April 1917. The Germans afterwards took the trenches and I did not see him buried. I am absolutely certain of the man because I had known him since 1895.”

As his body was not recovered by the war graves team Michael Chipper is commemorated on the Villers-Bretonneux Memorial.

He had a younger sister, Dorothea Julia Chipper who married a Walter Howard Ranford (died 1950) in Fremantle in 1903. The marriage produced at least three children; Henry Thomas Ranford (died 1989); Dorothea Constance Ranford and Steven George Ranford (died 1906)