Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Saw active service in WW1 with the Royal Field Artillery and was awarded the Military Medal
 
The citation reads; "17.06.1919 ...served with marked distinction the whole time he has been in RUSSIA, he especially distinguished himself during the 1st and 2nd Battle of VISTAFKA when he layed one gun for two days and nights continuously, often under heavy machine gun and rifle fire... this man has seen considerable service in FRANCE, and has been wounded." - E. Ironside Commander-in-Cheif, Allied Forces - Archangel
 
From a newspaper article of the day;

"With the outbreak of the 1914-18 war, ...he decided there were more important things to do and, unbeknown to his family, put on his age and joined the Rifle Brigade. This was in February 1915, just before his 16th birthday. Three months later his father intervened and young Mick was back in Civvy Street. Three days later, however, he re-enlisted, this time in the Royal Field Artillery and soon after went with his unit to France. In September 1916, he was wounded in action near Delville Wood, during the Battle of the Somme, and was invalided home. He was about to be returned to France early in 1917 when his father again intervened and Mick was kept back and transferred to what was known as an A4 Division made up of 18-year-old-boys. In June 1918, he went with his Battery to North Russia to fight the Bolsheviks, and in March 1919, he won the Military Medal."

Information submitted by Paul Mitchell