Browne, Michael Joseph James

4456 Lance Corporal Michael Joseph James Browne - 11th Battalion AIF

Michael Joseph James Browne was born in Balmain New South Wales on the 20th August 1888 to Daniel and Margaret Browne. He had four siblings, Clara 1891, Daniel 1893, Kathleen 1898 and Patrick 1899.

The family moved to the WA Goldfields in the late 1890's and took up residence in Coolgardie and Michael completed his education there.

He moved to Fremantle in the 1900's and found work at Fremantle Harbour. Michael was then living in Mason Street North Fremantle.

On the 30th October 1915 Michael enlisted into the Australian Imperial Force. He was found to be fit for enlistment with the medical examiner recording his physical attributes as;

Height - 5 feet 7 & 1/2 inches tall;

Weight - 156lbs;

Chest Measurement - 36-39 inches;

Complexion - Fresh;

Eyes - Blue;

Hair - Dark Brown.

Upon his successful enlistment, Michael was sent to Blackboy Hill Camp where he was assigned to the training depot. For the next several weeks he was then taken through the basics of infantry training. On the 16th December 1915 he was then transferred to the 14th Reinforcements to the 11th Battalion AIF.

Early in 1916 and on a break from his training, Michael married Elizabeth Ann Overall in Fremantle.

On the 12th February 1916 Michael and his group entrained for Fremantle Harbour where they boarded the transport ship HMAT Miltiades. The ship then set sail for Egypt, disembarking at Suez on the 10th March 1916.

They were sent to the 1st Division reinforcement camp and after a few weeks set sail for France on the 29th March 1916, reaching Marseilles on the 4th March 1916. The 1st Division reinforcements were then entrained north for Etaples and the 1st Australian Division Base Depot was set up. Michael remained here until the 24th May 1916 and the following day joined the 11th Battalion AIF.

The 11th Battalion were then in the front line near Bois Greiner. A week after he joined the unit the Germans launched a massive bombardment and raid on the 11th battalion trenches. Michael was wounded when shrapnel hit him in the leg and he was also blown up by a nearby shell burst suffering from shell shock. Fortunately the wound was not severe and he rejoined the 11th Battalion on the 9th June 1916.

In July 1916 the 11th battalion were sent to the Somme battlefield and on the 23rd July took part in the capture of Pozieres village. They were in the line for six days and underwent a huge battering from the German artillery. Fortunately Michael got through this action unscathed. After a few weeks rest the 11th Battalion took part in a further action at Mouquet Farm and on the 22nd August 1916 Michael was again blown up by a shell but miraculously not wounded but suffered from shell shock. Michael only had a short time away from his unit and rejoined them on the 4th September 1916.

He served with his unit till January 1917 when he was evacuated ill with pleurisy. He was sent to the 12th General Hospital at the French town Rouen and wans there for over a week. Michael was then transferred back to his unit, rejoining them on the 14th March 1917.

At the end of February 1917 the Germans began their withdrawal to the Hindenburg Line. It was a fighting withdrawal as it was pressed all the way by the Australian and British divisions. The 11^th Battalion saw action at Le Barque in February and Morchies in March, while in April they held an outpost line at Lagnicourt. On the 15^th April the Germans launched an assault on this line and they were initially successful as the Australian posts weren’t connected and they were able to make their way through the posts, surrounding and capturing the men in many of the positions. The Germans were eventually repulsed and there were large casualties for both sides. Fortunately Michael came through unscathed and also survived the 11th Battalion's time in the line at Bullecourt in May 1917.

The 11th Battalion then had a three month break out of the line where much of the time was taken up by training and sporting activities. In August 1917 he was granted a two week leave period to England.

The 11th Battalion returned to the front in September 1917 and took part in the Third Battle of Ypres in September and October 1917, seeing action at the Battle of Menin Road, Polygon Wood, Celtic Wood and Zonnebeke. Michael again emerged unscathed despite heavy casualties in his unit.

From November 1917 to March 1918, the 11th Battalion held the front line in the sector between Messines and Ypres Belgium.

As a result of the German offensive of March 21st 1918 when they broke through the British front in the southern sector, the five Australian divisions were sent to the Somme to help stop this advance. The 11th Battalion, as part of the 1st Australian Division was the last of the divisions to leave Belgium and had just arrived near Amiens when the Germans broke through the line in Belgium and made a speedy advance into northern France. The 1st Australian Division was then returned north and met the Germans around Hazebrouck, Meteren and Merris and for the next few months were in action here.

In July 1918 Michael  was appointed to the rank of Lance Corporal. Shortly after this the 11th Battalion was moved south to Villers-Bretonneux where they would take part in the large advance that was due to take place on August 8th 1918.

The 11th Battalion didn't take part in the first day of the advance but went into the line on the 9th August 1918 and on the following day attacked the German positions at Lihons. The Germans had well entrenched positions and unleashed a heavy machine gun fire on the advancing men of the 11th Battalion. Many of the 11th Battalion were killed and wounded by this fire but Michael had survived the action yet again.

Michael served with the 11th Battalion till the 12th September 1918, thereby missing his units last action of the war on the 18th September 1918. When Michael rejoined his Battalion on the 2nd October 1918 they were enjoying a rest period out of the front line.

On the 5th November 1918 Michael reported for sick parade as he had an abscess in his foot. He was sent to the 3rd Field Ambulance and was then sent to the 3rd Australian General Hospital at Abbeville. At this time he was also diagnosed with venereal disease and was then sent to the 39th General Hospital at Le Havre.

He was still in this hospital when the Armistice was declared on the 11th November 1918. He eventually rejoined the 11th Battalion on the 4th December 1918.

Michael served with the 11th Battalion for the next few months, eventually being transferred to England on the 3rd April 1919. He then spent a month in England while he waited to be assigned a berth on a ship home.

On the 12th May 1919 Michael boarded the transport ship Soudan in Devonport Harbour and set sail for home, reaching Fremantle on the 21st June 1919.

Michael was discharged from the AIF on the 13th August 1919.

After a short stay in North Fremantle, Michael and his wife Elizabeth moved to Victoria and by 1921 were living at Prahran.

The then moved to Caulfield in the late 1920's and during this time Michael was working as a steward. They then moved to St Kilda in 1936 and were there through to the 1960's

His wife Elizabeth died in Melbourne in 1962 and Michael died in St Kilda in 1966 aged 79.

(Photo courtesy of family ancestry site)