| John Michael
1st Class Petty Officer
OBITUARY
PASSING OF EX-COXSWAIN MICHAEL
At 53 Melbourne-road, on Monday forenoon last, there 'passed to the beyond' another link in the old times of Hobson's Bay shipping, in the person of ex-Coxswain John Michael, aged 74. He was a native of Libau, Russia, and had followed the sea from boyhood. Arriving here in the clipper ship Lady Jocelyn in 1870, he married, and settled at Williamstown. About this time he was appointed to the post of instructor on H.M.S. Nelson, when that historic man-o'-war was being utilised as an industrial naval school and was under the command of the late Captain G. Payne. Later he was made coxswain of Captain Mandeville's galley, and was likewise captain of one of the turret guns of the Cerberus.
After 15 years' association with the Victorian navy he was transferred to the Customs service as coxswain of the whaleboat, prior to the advent of steam launches. Finally he retired on pension in 1906. His youngest son, Private Victor Michael, has just been wounded on the French front. His grandson, Private W. j. Michael, together with son-in-law, Sergeant C. A. Saunders are likewise on active service. His eldest son, Mr. W. Michael, was recently a candidate for municipal honors. The late Mr. Michael, senior, leaves a widow and grown-up family of five sons and two daughters.
The remains were interred in the local necropolis on Wednesday after noon, the Rev. C. Brewer offiating at the graveside. Mr. T. Lonsdale had charge of the funeral arrangements. The pall-bearers were Messrs. J. Jenkins, J. M'Neil, C. Wilcher, H. Rayner, J. Morrissey and W. Hunter.
Footscray Chronicle, 23 September 1916 |
