Michael Harvey COLYER [20736]

  General Notes:

COLYER MICHAEL HARVEY
Graduated Year:1940
Degree:Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery
Sydney University.

THE OFFICIAL CORRESPONDENT, KENNETH SLESSOR.
ALAMEIN, Dec. 9A.I.F. GRAVES IN EGYPT Alamein Cemetery
Here, at this little speck on the map, between the huddle of stone huts, which is the Alamein railway station, and the lonely coast road that they helped to guard so stoutly, they are burying Australia's dead. Patiently and carefully for the past few weeks the soldiers of the A.I.F. who gave their lives in this last and fiercest campaign have been gathered together into a common bivouac. Close to the piercing blue of the Mediterranean a British war cemetery has been established and a section reserved for Australians. Day after day men of the A.I.F, have gathered their dead comrades from the battlefield and brought them here to simple burial and makeshift memorials. It has been left temporarily for each unit to honour its own fallen, to recover them from the sandy waste and carry them reverently to this last resting-place, where graves have been dug and gravestones erected. There have been services of all kinds. Some have been attended by a number of troops, listening stiff faced and silently to the age old words of burial, now loud, now faint, in the wind from the sea, which flutters the white surplices of the chaplains. Others have had an audience of only two or three, clustered with a padre around a solitary grave. Australians mixing cement for head- stones and men from other units down tools for a time and stand to attention, Joining in the simple familiar hymns with hushed voices. "LAST POST" Then the "Last Post," with its utter finality, echoes over the sandhills. Some graves are already complete with granite stones on which inscriptions have been deeply cut, others have merely white wooden crosses with the names clearly painted on them, awaiting the time when all will be done in permanence. Nearly all have full length concrete surfaces, and most have the Rising Sun of the A.I.F. badge moulded at the head with the words "Ever Remembered" across the centre. The men have worked unceasingly to make, sure that none of their dead has been forgotten. Only since the great break-through a month ago has "Ruin Ridge" been accessible. The moment they could reach it, men of a New South Wales anti-tank Regiment searched the ridge for comrades who had fallen on that fateful July night when they went in to support a Western Australian battalion and fought so gallantly against tremendous odds. They found the scattered graves of eight men who had died there. There is no division of rank in this brotherhood. The dead brigadier lies there with his men. At the west, corner of the cemetery is the grave of Major G. F. Copeland (N.S.W.). Beside him lies NX21758, Private A. Murray, and NX65448, Private E. A. Kelaher. Nearer the centre is Lieutenant Colonel R. W. N. Turner (N.S.W.). Not far away is NX15397, Warrant-Officer A. Weinstein, who has the Star of Judah over his grave.
NON-COMBATANTS Five non-combatants are buried here, personnel of field ambulances, including Captain M. H. Colyer, of New South Wales, but R.M.O. of a South Australian battalion. Each of these died while succouring the wounded under fire. To-day all is quiet at Alamein. Towards noon, as the sun grows warmer, the birds come singing to the purple desert goree, which fringes the cemeteries, and butterflies blow across the sand. The war has gone far away, but Australia is closer now, it seems, to these men who have died for Australia, than it has ever been. The guns have stopped, and peace has come also to the fresh graves on the farther side of the cemetery where they have buried Hans W. Reidel, of the Afrika Korps, and Ermino Cyrillo Feronza, of the Italian Army.
Ref: Trove - Sydney Morning Herald Friday 11 Dec 1942 Pg 6. article 17805230

Roll of Honour:
Michael Harvey Colyer
Service Number: NX71027
Rank: Captain
Unit: 2/43rd Australian Infantry Battalion
Service: Australian Army
Conflict: Second World War, 1939-1945
Date of death: 04 November 1942
Place of death: Egypt
Cause of death: Killed in action
Cemetery or memorial details: El Alamein War Cemetery, El Alamein, Marsa Matruh, Egypt
Source: AWM147 Roll of Honour cards, 1939-1945 War, 2nd AIF (Australian Imperial Force) and CMF (Citizen Military Force)
Australian War Memorial.

M. G. (sic) COLYER MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP
First Winner: Neville Hinchcliffe
Colonel G. H. L. Harris, Chair man of the Trust set up to administer the above scholarship, visited the Tumut Intermediate High School at yesterday morning's assembly of students and announced that Neville Hinch cliffe had been chosen by the selection committee to hold the above scholarship for 1943 - 45. The scholarship has been founded by a relative to perpetuate the name of Captain M. G. Colyer, an exstudent of Tumut Intermediate nigh School who died for his King and country whilst succoring the wounded in the North African campaign of last year.
The scholarship awards a sum of L50 per annum to a boy entering his Third Year in the High School course and who must, be the son of a member of the A.I.F., R.A.A.F., R.A.N, or Merchant Navy in this war or the last. The holder must undertake to complete the High School course and go on to the University or similar in stitution. He must solemnly promise so to conduct himself as to bring credit to the name of him in whose name the scholarship is founded . . . . .
During his remarks at the school Colonel Harris told the scholars of the man of whom the scholarship was in memory. Mick Colyer was born in the Tumut. district; he grew up here and was very well known . Whilst attending the Tumut School he was a very hard-working student. He was not, brilliant, but he stuck to his studies and went on to the University to study science. He then changed over to medicine and after a lot of hard work he succeeded in passing his exams. and became a doctor, when war broke out Mick volunteered for service and went overseas.
During the Battle of Alamein in Egypt last year he was in charge of a dressing station. A call came for a relief post in the forward lines and he and another doctor volunteered. They were both killed shortly after they reached their post. Mick was a man who was well known in Tumut. He looked you in the eye and shook you firmly by the hand when he met you. . . . .
Ref: Trove - The Tumut & Adelong Times 9 Mar 1943. (Initials incorrect)

  Research Notes:

Michael was the only son