Michael Joseph ANKETELL

ANKETELL, Michael Joseph

Service Numbers: 3009, WX3376, W29897
Enlisted: 30 July 1940
Last Rank: Lieutenant Colonel
Last Unit: 2nd/4th Machine Gun Battalion
Born: Briagolong, Vic., 15 October 1890
Home Town: Claremont, Western Australia
Schooling: Christian Brothers' College
Occupation: Trustees Officer
Died: Killed in Action, Malaya, 14 February 1942, aged 51 years
Cemetery: No known grave - "Known Unto God"
Memorials: Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Ballarat Australian Ex-Prisoners of War Memorial, Briagolong State School No 1117 Roll of Honor, Fremantle West Australian Trustee Executor Agency Co. Ltd. Roll of Honour WW2, Singapore Memorial Kranji War Cemetery
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World War 1 Service

29 Jan 1917: Embarked Private, 3009, 44th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Miltiades, Fremantle
29 Jan 1917: Involvement Private, 3009, 44th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '18' embarkation_place: Fremantle embarkation_ship: HMAT Miltiades embarkation_ship_number: A28 public_note: ''

World War 2 Service

3 Sep 1939: Involvement Lieutenant Colonel, WX3376
30 Jul 1940: Enlisted Australian Military Forces (Army WW2), Lieutenant Colonel, W29897
5 Nov 1940: Enlisted Australian Military Forces (Army WW2), Lieutenant Colonel, WX3376, 2nd/4th Machine Gun Battalion, Perth, WA

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Biography contributed by Faithe Jones

Son of Richard John ANKETELL and Annie nee FEELY

Wounded in action at Ulu Pandan 12.2. 1942, receiving a gunshot wound to the groin. The Colonel was evacuated unconscious by ambulance to Alexandra Hospital. Major Bull R.A.M.C. stated that he was on duty in the officer’s ward at Alexandra Hospital and that Lieutenant-Colonel Anketell was admitted there on Thursday, Feb 12 at 1700 hours. He was suffering from a compound fracture of the right upper femur and was in a profoundly shocked condition. He was sent to the resuscitation ward and was given 2 pints of plasma. When his condition was improved he was sent to the operating theatre whilst his wound was dressed and the limb splinted. He was sent to the ward in moderate condition but never rallied and died on the morning of Friday, Feb 13 1942.
Report by the Surgeon in Charge-Major Webster, R.A.M.C.

Lieutenant-Colonel M.J. Anketell, commander of the 2/4th Machine Gun Battalion, was killed when the hospital in which he was a patient was bombed on February 14, 1942.  This news was given to Mrs. Anketell by the Army authorities today.  Colonel Anketell was wounded in the Singapore compaign, was killed in the hospital bombing two days later.  He was officially reported dead on June 1 this year and that was the only news received of him, until today, since the fall of Singapore.  Aged 54, Colonel Anketell leaves an 18 years old son and an eight year old daughter.  Eldest son of Mrs. and Mrs. R.J. Anketell, of South Perth, he was educated at Christian Brothers' College, was later on the staff of the W.A. Trustee Company, and was a director of the Y.M.C.A.  He held a commission in the 44th Battalion in the last war.

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