Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Michael John Dwyer
Grandfather of Michael John Dwyer [1919-1994], Victoria Police Veteran, Mounted Constable Michael John Dwyer 3877 [1854-1910], drowned at Lorne, on 13 February 1910. The 46 years of age, at the time being in charge of the Winchelsea police station, left Catherine Winifred Dwyer, a widow with seven children, aged from 23 to 9 years - Alice Mary [1887-1917] , John Eric Dwyer [1888-1958], Ernest Stapleton Dwyer [1890-1955], Thomas Leo [1893-1917], Gerald Francis [1895-1971], Kathleen Margaret [1898-1983], and Michael John [1901-1983].
Twenty-three years-of-age, John Eric Dwyer, in 1912, married Melbourne, Victoria born, Lillian Margaret Johnstone [1890-1950], daughter of Margaret Walsh and Thomas Johnstone.
Arriving, in 1912, at Flemington, Victoria, Mary Margaret became the first child of Eric and Lillian Dwyer. Two years hence, the trio welcomed Catherine Winifred [1914-1988] at Swan Hill, Victoria, followed by third daughter, Eileen [1915-1992], who became known as Alice.
Residing at Tyntynder, Eric was secretary of the Tyntynder Central State school committee, captain of the cricket team, as well as taking a keen interest in coursing – the pursuit of game or other animals by dogs – chiefly greyhounds as well as other sighthounds – catching their prey by speed, running by sight, but not by scent. Considered a very competent judge, in this capacity, his services were in demand all over Victoria.
Enlisting, at Swan Hill, on 15 March 1916, in the AIF, 27 years of age, secretary and grain buyer, Eric Dwyer became a private assigned to the 5th Battalion 23 Reinforcement.
Returning his family to Melbourne, to dwell at 46 Millswyn Street, South Yarra, with widowed matriarch, Catherine Dwyer, Eric Dwyer embarked, on 23 November 1916, from Melbourne aboard HMAT A20 Hororata, occupying his service at Camp Larkhill on the Salisbury Plain in Wiltshire, England, obviously possessed of good penmanship, combined with organising ability.
Returning to Australia, on 8 April 1917, due to rupturing the left thigh quadriceps, to resume residing at 382A Punt Road, South Yarra, Eric and Lillian Dwyer increased their family with the arrival of first son, Thomas Leo [1917-1917], perhaps named for his deceased uncle killed in action at Gallipoli. However, tragically the babe passed away in the same year.
Twenty-nine years-of-age, clerk, Eric Dwyer successfully secured, under the Returned Soldiers’ Repatriation Scheme, 95 acres of land, valued at £95, at Purrumbete South, in 1918.
Arriving at Camperdown, children Michael John [1919-1994], Eric Francis [1920-1981], Norienne [1921-1975], as well as Gerald Patrick [1923-2015] increased the family.
All three sons served during the Second World War – Michael John Dwyer [1919-1994] 6th Infantry Battalion; Eric Francis ‘Frank’ Dwyer [1920-1981], Special Intelligence Central Bureau; Gerald Patrick Dwyer [1923-2015] VX75829, enlisted, at Caulfield, Victoria.
Continuing his successful coursing interests, however, his hopes of operating a dairy farm proving unsuccessful, Eric moved his family to Echuca, being employed, for 11 years, as a stock inspector, prior to returning to Melbourne.
Passing away, on 4 May 1950, at her daughter's residence, 53 Bishop Street, Yarraville, 60 years-of-age, Lillian Margaret, beloved wife of John Eric Dwyer, of 105 Queen Street, Colac, and loving mother of Margaret [Mrs A. W. Doherty], Katherine [Mrs W. L. Quirk], Alice [Mrs F. H. Silvey] [1915-1992], Thomas Leo [Leo] [1917-1917], Michael [1918-], Eric Francis [Frank] [1920-1981], Norienne [Mrs J. P. Peterson] [1921-], and Gerald, passed into eternal peace.
Educated, at the Brigidine Convent School, Echuca, Michael John Dwyer, a member of the Echuca football team, as well as successful at northern Victoria and Riverina swimming carnivals, also served three years with the 38th Battalion, Echuca.
Upon his father’s transfer to Middle Park, Melbourne, Michael served with the Royal Melbourne Regiment prior to enlisting in the 2nd AIF. Assigned to the Royal Melbourne Showgrounds 25 October 1939 raised 2/6 Battalion, comprising a small cadre force of officers and non-commissioned officers, drawn mainly from Militia units.
Transferring, in November, to Puckapunyal the 2/6 Battalion, upon completion of a short period of rudimentary training, in April 1940, embarked for the Middle East on the transport ship Neuralia, departing from Port Melbourne.
Just prior to his departure, Michael Dwyer became engaged to a well-known Middle Park girl, Miss Mary O'Dwyer.
Upon arrival, in mid-May, the 2/6 battalion established itself around Beit Jirja, completing training at various locations in Palestine and Egypt. In early January 1941, the 6th Division was committed to the fighting in Libya, with the 2/6 participating in the first action of the war by Australian ground forces, the Battle of Bardia, during which they fought against Italian forces. Although the battalion's involvement in the battle was meant to be limited to creating a diversion for the main attack, in the end proved to be its most costly, resulting in 22 killed and 51 wounded – including 22 years-of-age, Lieutenant Michael John Dwyer.
His father, Private John Eric Dwyer [1888-1958], served with 5th Battalion [1916-1917]. His uncle, Trooper Thomas Leo Dwyer [1893-1917] of the 8th Light Horse [1914-1917] Regimental Number 692, was killed in action at the Dardenelles, Gallipoli Peninsula, Turkey in 1917.
A third uncle, Driver Gerald Francis Dwyer [1895-1971] served with the 3rd Field Artillery Brigade [1915-1918] Regimental Number 4703. A fourth uncle, Private Michael John Dwyer [1901-1983] VX84725, served with the 106 Anti-Tank Regiment [1942-1944].
His sister, Sergeant Eileen Alice Silvey née Dwyer [1915-1992] V397162, as well as his brothers, Sergeant Eric Francis ‘Frank’ Dwyer [1920-1981] VX15917 together with Signalman Gerald Patrick Dwyer [1923-2015] VX75829, served in World War 2.
Major Michael John Dwyer [1919-1994], together with his wife, Mary Margaret [, parents of Michael, Christine, Margaret, Mary, Katherine, Kevin, Leo and Adrian, rests in eternal peace in Benalla Cemetery, Benalla, Victoria, Lawn Section K, Plot Number 87.