Michael was born in January 1918 and commissioned from the Royal Military College, Sandhurst as a Second Lieutenant on 27^th January 1938. His battalion was ordered to France in early 1940 to join the rest of the British Expeditionary Force. It fought in the Battle of Dunkirk before being evacuated.

Michael was aged 22 when he was killed on Friday 24^th May 1940 in a rear-guard action on the La Bassee Canal, when with a few men he held up attack after attack to cover the retirement of the rest of his platoon for which he received a “Mention in Despatches”.

He lies at rest in Longuenesse (St.Omer) Souvenir Cemetery, France.

Son of Cyril Edward Browne & Alice Christina Browne of Bray, Co. Wicklow, Irish Republic.

A copy of Michael's story can be downloaded here.

Revised: October 2025