Michael HANRAHAN

Regimental number4294
Place of birthBroken Hill, New South Wales
ReligionRoman Catholic
OccupationFireman
AddressAngaston, South Australia
Marital statusSingle
Age at embarkation23
Height5' 4.5"
Weight162 lbs
Next of kinFather, James Hanrahan, Terowie, South Australia
Previous military serviceNil
Enlistment date4 October 1916
Place of enlistmentAdelaide, South Australia
Rank on enlistmentPrivate
Unit name32nd Battalion, 11th Reinforcement
AWM Embarkation Roll number23/49/2
Embarkation detailsUnit embarked from Adelaide, South Australia, on board HMAT A19 Afric on 7 November 1916
Rank from Nominal RollPrivate
Unit from Nominal Roll32nd Battalion
FateReturned to Australia 5 July 1919
Medals

Military Medal

'During the operations from before BELLICOURT to beyond JONCOURT between 29th August/1st October No. 4294 Private HANRAHAN showed the greatest courage and devotion to duty. He was a stretcher bearer and during the whole period his untiring services to all wounded not only of his own Company but any others he met with were remarkable and praiseworthy in the highest degree. On the afternoon of the 30th September he attended many of the English wounded in the vicinity, under very heavy shell and machine gun fire. On the same day when his own Battalion attacked from north of MAGNY LA FOSSE towards JONCOURT, Private HANRAHAN was observed to remain practically in the open and attend to four comrades who were wounded while advancing and afterwards carry them under fire to an R.A.P. This gallant action had a wonderful moral effect on the men of his Company and considerably encouraged them into dangerous work they had to perform.'
Source: 'Commonwealth Gazette' No. 109
Date: 15 September 1919

Discharge date25 September 1919
Other details

War service: Western Front

Embarked Adelaide, 7 November 1916; disembarked Plymouth, England, 9 January 1917.

Proceeded overseas to France, 5 April 1917; taken on strength, 32nd Bn, in the field, 12 April 1917.

Found guilty, 8 June 1918, of being absent without leave in that he was absent from his billet without permission on 7 June 1918 and was absent when his Company marched out to new billets on 7 June 1918: awarded 2 days' Field Punishment No 2.

Found guilty, in the field, 11 July 1918, of conduct to the prejudice of good order and Military Discipline in that he absented himself from a working party without permission, 10 July 1918: awarded 7 days' Field Punishment No 2.

On leave to United Kingdom, 16 August 1918; rejoined Bn from leave, 3 September 1918.

Detached to Divisional Headquarters, 7 March 1919l rejoined Bn, 14 March 1919.

Awarded Military Medal.

Marched out to England for return to Australia, 5 May 1919; embarked for England, 12 May 1919; marched in to No 5 Group, Weymouth, 13 May 1919.

Commenced return to Australia on board HT 'Port Melbourne', 5 July 1919; disembarked Adelaide, 18 August 1919; discharged, 25 September 1919.

Medals: Military Medal, British War Medal, Victory Medal
Date of death29 September 1937
SourcesNAA: B2455, HANRAHAN Michael