BYRNE, Michael Edward
| Service Number: | 1228 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 19 July 1915 |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 32nd Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Liverpool, New South Wales, Australia, July 1881 |
| Home Town: | Liverpool, Fairfield, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | Convent (Catholic) School, Liverpool, New South Wales, Australia |
| Occupation: | Drover |
| Died: | Pneumonia, Queen Alexandria Military Hospital, (Barrack Extension), Millbank, London, England, 3 February 1919 |
| Cemetery: |
Brookwood Military Cemetery, Pirbright, Surrey, England, United Kingdom Plot IV, Row M, Grave No. 2 |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour |
World War 1 Service
| 19 Jul 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 1228, 32nd Infantry Battalion | |
|---|---|---|
| 18 Nov 1915: | Involvement Private, 1228, 32nd Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '17' embarkation_place: Adelaide embarkation_ship: HMAT Geelong embarkation_ship_number: A2 public_note: '' | |
| 18 Nov 1915: | Embarked Private, 1228, 32nd Infantry Battalion, HMAT Geelong, Adelaide | |
| 19 Jul 1916: | Wounded AIF WW1, Private, 1228, 32nd Infantry Battalion, Fromelles (Fleurbaix), GSW to left wrist |
Help us honour Michael Edward Byrne's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by Evan Evans
The summary below was completed by Cathy Sedgwick – Facebook “WW1 Australian War Graves in England/UK/Scotland/Ireland
Died on this date – 3rd February…… Private Michael Edward Byrne was born at Liverpool, Sydney, New South Wales in 1881. He enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force (A.I.F.) on 19th July, 1915 as a 34 year old, single, Drover from Madrie Station, Roeburne, Western Australia.
Private Michael Edward Byrne, Service Number 1228, embarked from Adelaide, South Australia on HMAT Geelong (A2) on 18th November, 1915 (as per Embarkation Roll) with the 8th Infantry Brigade, 32nd Infantry Battalion “D” Company. He disembarked at Suez on 18th December, 1915.
He was absent from 8.45 & 14.45 Parades on 17th March, 1916 at Tel-el-Kebir & 6.45 Parade on 18th March, 1916 & was awarded 3 days Confined to Camp & forfeited 2 days’ pay.
On 17th June, 1916 Private Byrne embarked from Alexandria to join B.E.F. (British Expeditionary Force) & disembarked at Marseilles, France on 23rd June, 1916. He was written up on 6th July, 1916 for 1. Drunkenness & 2. A.W.L. from 09.15 until arrested at 21.50. He was awarded 28 days Field Punishment No. 2 & forfeited 1 days’ pay on 10th July, 1916.
Private Michael Edward Byrne was wounded in action in France on 19th July, 1916. He was admitted to 15th Field Ambulance on 20th July, 1916 with G.S.W. (gunshot wound/s) to Wrist then transferred & admitted the same day to 2nd Australian Casualty Clearing Station with G.S.W. to left Hand. Private Byrne was transferred to Ambulance Train on 20th July, 1916 & admitted to 3rd Canadian General Hospital at Boulogne, France on 21st July, 1916. He was transferred to 1st Convalescent Depot at Boulogne, France on 22nd July, 1916 & discharged to Base Details on 26th July, 1916. Private Byrne rejoined 32nd Battalion in France on 15th August, 1916.
On 21st November, 1916 Private Byrne received a fractured right Leg which occurred in the Trenches while in the performance of military duty (carrying water) and was not to blame. He was admitted to 14th Field Ambulance (M.O.S Camp) on 22nd November, 1916 with fractured right Leg. Private Byrne was transferred to Rouen & embarked on Hospital Ship West Australia for England on 30th November, 1916 with fracture of Fibula & Tibia. He was admitted to American Women’s War Hospital at Devonport, England on 1st December, 1916 with fractured leg “slight”. He was transferred to 2nd Auxiliary Hospital at Southall, England on 26th January, 1917. Private Byrne was discharged from Southall on 15th February, 1917 & marched in to No. 2 Command Depot at Weymouth, Dorset, England on the same day.
He was posted to No. 2 Command Depot, Weymouth, Dorset on 16th February, 1917 with a fractured right Leg. The Hospital Admissions form recorded “Middle & lower thigh still in light plaster – Massage. To leave off Plaster. To use stick 22 2/17 Still stiff & swollen. 5 3/17 Improved…17 5/17 Trying massage after March slight swollen ….”
Private Byrne was sent sick to Isolation Hospital on 4th April, 1917 then admitted to 1st Australian Dermatological Hospital at Bulford, Wiltshire on 6th April, 1917 with V.D. He was discharged (total period 32 days) & marched in to No. 2 Command Depot at Weymouth, Dorset on 5th May, 1917.
He proceeded overseas to France via Southampton on 10th June, 1917 from H. & D. (Hardening & Drafting) Depot at Perham Downs, Wiltshire & rejoined 32nd Battalion on 1st July, 1917.
Private Byrne was AWL (absent without Leave) from 8.30 am to 9.30 pm on 23rd July, 1917. He was awarded 7 days Field Punishment No. 2 & forfeited 8 days’ pay. He was again AWL from 8.30 am to 10 pm on 4th August, 1917. He was awarded 14 days Field Punishment No. 2.
On 12th October, 1917 Private Byrne was sent to 43rd Field Ambulance with Bronchitis. He was transferred to Hospital at Camiers & invalided to England on Hospital Ship on 5th November, 1917. Private Byrne was admitted to Tooting Military Hospital, Church Lane, England on 5th November, 1917 with Bronchitis – severe. He was discharged to furlo on 21st November, 1917 until 5th December, 1917 & was then to report to Depot at Sutton Veny.
He was reported A.W.L. (Absent without Leave) on 6th December, 1917 from No. 1 Command Depot, Sutton Veny, Wiltshire, England. He returned from A.W.L. on 19th December, 1917 & was awarded 28 days Field Punishment No. 2 & forfeiture of 42 days’ pay from 20th December, 1917.
Private Byrne was marched out from No. 1 Command Depot, Sutton Veny, Wiltshire on 19th February, 1918 & marched in to Overseas Training Brigade, Longbridge Deverill, Wiltshire. He was A.W.L. from midnight on 5th March, 1918 until 4 pm on 6th March, 1918 & was awarded a total forfeiture of 8 days’ pay.
On 2nd April, 1918 Private Byrne proceeded overseas to France & rejoined 32nd Battalion on 10th April, 1918.
He was attached to 5th Australian Mobile Veterinary Section from 24th August, 1918 & ceased to be attached on 13th October, 1918.
Private Byrne proceeded from the Field in France on 14th January, 1919 for England for Return to Australia. He was posted to A.G.B.D. (Australian General Base Depot) at Havre, France on 20th January, 1919 then transferred to No. 4 Command Depot at Hurdcott, Wiltshire on 21st January, 1919 as part of 1915 Personnel (awaiting return to Australia).
He was admitted to Queen Alexandria Military Hospital – Barrack Section, London, England on 26th January, 1919 – dangerously ill with Pneumonia.
Private Michael Edward Byrne died at 11.10 pm on 3rd February, 1919 at Queen Alexandria Military Hospital, (Barrack Extension), Millbank, London, England from Pneumonia.
He was buried in Brookwood Military Cemetery, Surrey, England where around 360 other WW1 Australian War Graves are located.
(The above is a summary of my research. The full research can be found by following the link below)
https://ww1austburialsuk.weebly.com/a---b1.html
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