BROWNE, William Michael

BROWNE, William Michael – A Southern Downs Veteran

CONFLICT : WWI
SERVICE NO : 3256
RANK : Lance Corporal
UNIT : 41st Battalion
ENLISTMENT DATE : 19/02/1917
AGE : 25
PLACE OF ENLISTMENT : Toowoomba, Queensland
PLACE OF BIRTH : Dalveen, Queensland
RELIGION : Roman Catholic
OCCUPATION : Grazier
DATE OF DEATH : 21/03/1959
PLACE OF BURIAL : Lutwyche, Queensland

MEMORIALS : Dalveen WWI Honour Boards

View Veteran’s Service File : BROWNE, William Michael

NOTES :

William Michael Browne or Bill as he was known to everyone, was one of ten children born to Michael Patrick and Margaret Matilda Browne of Mt Janet, Dalveen. His schooling was undertaken at the Mt Janet Provisional School near Dalveen where he was one of the first children enrolled at the school in the first year it opened on January 26, 1898. The first school teacher, Jane McDonald boarded with the Browne family.

In February 1917, William decided to travel to Toowoomba to enlist and was assigned to the 41st Battalion. By this stage the family already had three other sons who had enlisted in the war, they were Thomas McDonald (Mackie) Browne 299 KIA, Stewart Alexander Browne 460 and Frederick Robert Browne 574.

May 1918 saw William wounded in action from a gas attack. In April 1919 he was detached from the 41st Battalion for duty with the Australian Burial Detachment and attached to Graves Registration Detachment. Before his discharge he was detached back to the 41st Battalion.

After his discharge he moved back to Dalveen. Upon the death of his father in 1928 he spent time working in north Queensland before settling in Brisbane.

Read about Southern Downs Military History here.