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Michael Edward Colman SJ (sometimes Coleman) was born at Foxford, county Mayo, on 25 September 1858. He had already been ordained a priest (had studied in Paris and he was President of Saint Nathy's College, Ballaghadereen), when he joined the Society of Jesus at Tullamore on 6 September 1890. Between 1890 and 1908 he had a varied experience as a Jesuit, including study, teaching, rural mission work in Ireland, parish work, three years’ service as a military chaplain in South Africa (1902-1905) and two years missionary work in China (1905-1907). In 1908 he was sent to Australia and assigned to the parish of Norwood, Adelaide in South Australia. In 1911 Michael was sent to Hawthorn, Victoria; from there, in 1913, he was transferred to the Jesuit Novitiate, Loyola College at Greenwich, New South Wales. Finally, in 1914 and in poor health, Michael was transferred back to Norwood and was serving there when the First World War broke out. Michael Colman was almost 57 years old and known to be in bad health when he applied for appointment as a chaplain in the AIF in September 1915. Fr Colman’s appointment was as a ‘voyage only’ chaplain. On 21 September, Michael Colman embarked on HMAT Star of England, for the voyage to Egypt. Fr Coleman caused consternation on the voyage to Egypt in 1915. He narrowly escaped court-martial and Coleman’s commanding officer remarked: ‘his conduct is I think almost unique in its open defiance’. His record shows that on reaching Egypt he was immediately transferred to HMAT Themistocles as a medical patient for return to Australia; his diagnosis was Bright’s disease (a kidney condition known these days as nephritis). Arriving in Melbourne on 2 January 1916, he was transferred to Adelaide, where he was admitted to the 7th Australian General Hospital, pending termination of his appointment, which occurred on 25 January 1916. Following his release from the AIF, Michael Colman returned to parish work at Norwood, but continued to be dogged by ill-health. He was sent to Sevenhill in 1919 and died in Adelaide on 3 October 1920.

http://discoveringanzacs.naa.gov.au/browse/person/124152

The Rev. Father Michael Colman died at the North Adelaide Private Hospital on Sunday after a protracted illness. Born in county Mayo, Ireland, on September 25, 1858, he studied for the secular priest hood in Paris. He entered the Society of Jesus in 1890, and served as chaplain in the South African war. and in the China mission field. Father Colman came to Australia in 1906, and worked at Sydney, Melbourne, and Adelaide. He was a distinguished theologian.

Chronicle Saturday 09 October 1920 page 20

DEATH OF FATHER COLMAN, SJ.
We regret to record the death of the Rev. Michael Colman, S.J., which took place in the North Adelaide Hospital on Sunday morning last. Since coming to Adelaide some six or seven years ago Fr. Colman's health had been very unsatisfactory. He made a couple of voyages to Egypt as chaplain on troopships during the war and benefited somewhat by the change. A few months ago, however, he be came very much worse, and the end was expected. The Solemn Office and Requiem Mass for his soul was celebrated at St. Ignatius' Church, Norwood, on Tuesday morning. Very Rev. D. Connell was the celebrant, Rev. F. Connell deacon, Rev. Fr. Denny sub-deacon, and Rev. Fr. Gatzemeyer master of ceremonies, and a good number of priests were present. The remains were afterwards interred in the Catholic Cemetery, West Terrace.

Southern Cross Friday 08 October 1920 page 13

Michael Edward Colman was born in Foxford, county mayo, 25 September in 1858.  In 1914 Michael was in Norwood and was serving there when the war broke out. Michael was 57 when he applied for chaplain in the AIF. It was known that he was in bad health when he applied so he was appointed ‘voyage only’ chaplain.

The average age for chaplains who applied was between 30 and 40 years old, with the maximum age being 52 however Michael Colman managed to be accepted when he was 58 years old which is unusual because the maximum age for people to be accepted as voyage only was 52 years old. Chaplains who were sent on voyage only would catch a ship down to Egypt or England and would then complete whatever tasks they needed to do to assist the army. They would then go home to wherever they came from on the next available ship.

Michael embarked on the HMAT Star of England, to Egypt. Fr Colman escaped court-martial and his commanding officer stated, “his conduct is I think almost unique its open defiance”. Once he reached Egypt he was transferred to the HMAT Themistocles as one of the medical patients for return to Australia. Fr Colman was diagnosed with  ‘Bright’s Disease’ (it is now known as nephritis). Colman arrived back in Melbourne on the second of January 1916. He was transferred to Adelaide, where he was sent to the 7th Australian general hospital where his military appointment was terminated on 25 January 1916. After Colman’s release from AIF Fr Colman returned to his parish work in Norwood. Michael Colman died on the 3rd October 1920 in the north Adelaide private hospital.