Michael James Birchell

Michael James Birchell (2 June 1945 - 17 February 1967) was a panel beater and conscripted soldier who served in the 1st Australian Task Force in the Vietnam War where he was killed in action.
Biography
Birchell was born in Marrickville, New South Wales and was the son of James William and Alice Catherine (née Taylor) Birchell. His father James had served in World War II and, after his discharge in August 1945 (an shortly after Birchell's birth) the family moved to Coonabarabran where they lived until 1962 when they moved together to Tamworth. Birchell and Private Peter John Arnold were ordered to provide covering fire with an M60 machine gun, so that wounded members of his platoon could be extracted. On that day 8 men were killed and 27 wounded and, when reported in the Australian newspapers, it was reported as being a "fierce six-hour battle" and that it was a significant defeat for the Viet Cong and Brigadier SC Graham said that it represented a "bad psychological defeat" for the communists. The casualties were significant to the ant-war movement in Australia as 18 of the 35 casualties were National Servicemen.
Legacy
He is listed on the Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour and their official list of the fallen from the conflict in Vietnam 1962 - 1973.
His name is also listed on a number of memorials relating to the Vietnam War in Australia.<ref name=":1" />

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