17/320 L/corporal Michael Mickelson, (16/8/1881-1/10/1916). "died a hero"

Michael Mickelson was farming in the Purakaunui area when he joined the 5th Reinforcements in 1915. He was in the 8th Company, 2nd Battalion of the Otago Infantry Regiment when it attacked German positions in the Battle of the Somme on October 1st, 1916.

The 2nd Battalion of the Regiment assembled in Goose Alley for the attack, and under cover of an artillery barrage extending over a line parallel thereto, moved forward at zero hour to the assault in four waves, each perfect in line and interval, and with rifles at the slope. Almost immediately, 4th Company on the right, together with portion of 8th Company, came under heavy machine gun fire from the direction of Gird Trench. The 10th and 14th Companies on the left were at this stage advancing across a depression which afforded comparative cover, and thus escaped the gruelling fire which confronted the right companies. The 4th and 8th Companies had moreover a difficult manoeuvre to execute. After advancing for a distance of about 200 yards to their front it was necessary to incline to the right and then eventually to change direction to that quarter; and despite the heavy fire encountered the movement was effectively carried out.

As the last Otago company went forward two companies of Wellington Battalion moved up Goose Alley and then forward in two waves in rear of and in support to Otago. Advancing to the crest of the ridge after changing direction, 4th and 8th Companies were seriously depleted in strength under the blasts of machine gun fire which swept their ranks. Every officer was a casualty, and non-commissioned officers and men were heavily hit. But with unfailing determination they pressed on, successfully reaching their objective and passing some distance beyond it. -Official History of the Otago Regiment.

PRIVATE MICKELSON. 

The following extract from a letter received from Sergeant E. M. Dillon (who was on sick leave to England) informs Mr E. Mickelson, Waihao Downs, South Canterbury, of the manner in which his son Michael met his death at the front on October 1, 1916: — "On my arrival here a couple of days ago I met several Otago boys who were in his company, and among them I met his company sergeant at the time. He tells me that a shell landed close to them, and, I am sorry to tell you, Mick was hit, and died a few minutes after, and was buried on the battlefield very decently by his comrades. He tells me your son played the game all through, and was one of their best men, and died a hero like a big number of New Zealand's best boys that day. Please accept my deepest sympathy. It will be gratifying to you to know he did his duty like a soldier and a gentleman."  -Otago Daily Times, 5/7/1917.

Port Chalmers Cemetery.