Lieutenant Colonel Michael Joseph Anketell
- Rank
- Lieutenant Colonel
- Appointment
- Australian Army 1942 South East Asia
- Service number
- WX3376
- Decorations
- Mentioned in Despatches
- Unit
- 2/4 Machine Gun Battalion
- Cause of death
- Died of Wounds
- Place of death
- Singapore
- Date of death
- 14 February 1942
- Age
- 51
- Plaque number
- L268
- Dedicated by
- His wife on 5 December 1948
- More information
Lieutenant Colonel Michael Joseph Anketell MID WX3376 (1890-1942, born Briagalong, Victoria) enlisted in the Australian Military Forces at Claremont, Western Australia, on 5 November 1940. He had pre-World War II Militia Service and was appointed to command 2/4th Machine Gun Battalion on 15 November 1940. The Battalion was deployed to Singapore in July 1941. At Hill 200, Singapore, on 14 February 1942, he was badly wounded in his thigh and evacuated to the Alexandra Hospital where he died at 1945 hours and was buried in Slit Trench 17 on 16 February 1945, the day after Japanese Forces captured Singapore.
Mentioned in Despatches (MID) Citation: In recognition of gallant and distinguished services in Malaya in 1942. (Supplement to the London Gazette No. 37671 dated 1 August 1946)
Lieutenant Colonel Anketell has no known grave and his official memorial is the Singapore Memorial, Kranji War Cemetery, Singapore, where his name is shown on Column 135. His Roll of Honour is Perth, Western Australia.
His honour plaque in Kings Park was dedicated by his wife on 5 December 1948. He is the son of Richard John Anketell (1862-1928) and Annie Anketell (nee Feeley) (1865-1947) and husband of Margaret Anketell (nee Kenny) (1890-1970), of Claremont, Western Australia.
He had served with 44th Australian Infantry Battalion in France during World War I.
Lieutenant Colonel Anketell is remembered with honour.