Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Charles Ambrose Michalanney was born to Roman Catholics Hannah and James Michalanney in April 1888, in a small town near Hamilton SA, called Marrabel. Although it was unknown whether or not he had any siblings, Charles grew up around many other Michalanneys. At 11 years old, Charles suffered the loss of his 49-year-old father in an accident. In his late teens, he attempted to join A.I.F. Cowell, but he was rejected due to his chronic indigestion.

Charles relocated himself to a farm in Cowell, Franklin Harbour, located on the western side of the Spencer Golf 407km away from his childhood town. This is where he was from his early twenties until early 1916 when he travelled to enlist in WW1.

He arrived in Adelaide in March of 1916, and he enlisted in the war on the 11th day of the month. Whether he went back to his home farm or stayed in Adelaide for the remainder of the time is unknown, but on the 24th of June 1916, Charles Ambrose Michalanney boarded the A45 Bulla bound for England, and then on to war.

Upon leaving the country, Michalanney was two months past 27 years, with a fair complexion, grey eyes, and brown hair. He stood at 5.5ft, which was short even back then.

The A45 Bulla landed in Plymouth exactly a month after embarking on the 24th  of August 1916. Michalanney was based in a training camp for a month, presumably at Wilton, a two-day journey on foot from the port. He stayed there for another month before being deployed to the 27th Infantry Battalion in Etaples, a coastal town in the north of France.  

Michalanney was ranked as a Private, the lowest and most common military rank. Infantry soldiers were usually in the trenches on foot for weeks at a time and were shooting at the enemy with their guns during battles. He remained in this role for the entirety of his service. The service number given to him upon enlistment was 5032.

After the 32nd battalion suffered 718 casualties at Fromelles,  Charles was transferred to the 32nd Infantry Battalion in October of 1916. On the 7th of October, the battalion was sent out to fight in The Somme Winter. While fighting, Michalanney fell ill with dysentery for the first time, and was evacuated to an English hospital on the 27th of November. He caught dysentery multiple times while on the front line, as did many soldiers, but Michalanney was especially susceptible due to his chronic indigestion.

Charles stayed in hospital recovering for almost two months, while the rest of his battalion continued fighting. He re-joined the battalion in Etaples on the 16th of January 1917, only to be sent back into the field five days later on the 21st of January. He stayed at the front line for the next eight months, until the 24th of august, a year exactly since he had first landed in England, Michalanney returned to England once again on leave.

There was no news of  Charles for the next ten months, but his battalion was involved in the Battle of Polygon Wood. Michalanney’s next move was when he went to hospital sick on the 25th of May 1918. This was interesting timing as it was the first time the 32nd battalion was sent out to the fields since August the year before, although they were only out there for two days. Michalanney returned to Etaples on the 27th of May, the same day the rest of his battalion returned from the field.

On the 20th of June, Michalanney was given leave again and made his way to England. He returned much quicker this time and was placed back in the field a little under a month later, on the 13th of July 1918.

Charles was wounded in action on the 30th of July and taken to hospital. He left the hospital on the 12th of September and was presumably travelling for a week before rejoining the 32nd battalion on the 19th of September. He was sent back into the field two days later to fight in the Battle of Amiens on the 21st of September.

Eight days later Charles was once again wounded in battle on the 10th of November 1918, the day before the official end of the war. There is no record of him getting medical treatment, but six days later he left France for English leave once more.

Although it is not on record, it is assumed he made his way back to his battalion in Etaples. That is, what was left of his battalion. Men were gradually returning home to Australia, and on the 8th of March 1919, the remnants of the 30th and the 32nd battalions, which still included Michalanney, were merged together.

Finally, on the 17th of April 1919, Michalanney was part of a group that was marched out to Le Havre, a two-day walk down the coast southward. 11 days later, on the 28th of April, he boarded a ship to Weymouth in England, thus starting the journey back home to Australia.

On the 5th of July 1919, over three years since leaving his homeland, Charles Michalanney docked in Port Melbourne. During his time at war, he earnt two medals, a British war medal and a victory medal.

In March 1936, he sent multiple letters to the Army Records Office asking for copies of books, pay, and war medals. There had been a fire ten years prior and he had lost everything. His request was granted. He had moved from Cowell and was now living at 27 Tomsey Street in Adelaide East.

Army Records Office in September 1942, to request a copy of his discharge papers as the old ones had also been lost in the fire. His request was once again granted. At this time, he had moved and was living just around the corner from his previous residence at 218 Hutt Street Adelaide.

Charles Michalanney died on the 8th of July 1952 at 64 years old. He had no children and was never married. He is buried in Centennial Park Cemetery.