Michael George Windsor was born in 1893 in Caulfield. He was the son of Arthur Windsor, who, at the time of Michael’s enlistment on 17 August 1914, was living at 272 High Street, St. Kilda. Michael gave his occupation as labourer and his next of kin as Miss Costain, Wellington Street, Jolimont. Minnie Costain was Michael's aunt. He later changed his next of kin to his father, who by then had moved to Tyson Street, Richmond, where he remained until his death in 1940. Arthur was a fishmonger. Michael was just under 5ft 10ins had a fair complexion, grey eyes and fair hair. His distinctive marks included a split toe, 2nd toe on right foot. He was appointed to C Company, 6th Battalion as a lance corporal on account of previous experience with the Citizens Military Forces.
He embarked on 21 October 1914 aboard the Hororata.
According to the Australian War Memorial’s unit history the 6th battalion
took part in the Anzac landing on 25 April 1915, as part of the second wave. Ten days after the landing, the 2nd Brigade was transferred from Anzac to Cape Helles to help in the attack on the village of Krithia. The attack captured little ground but cost the brigade almost a third of its strength. The Victorian battalions returned to Anzac to help defend the beachhead, and in August the 2nd Brigade fought at the battle of Lone Pine. The battalion served at Anzac until the evacuation in December. After the withdrawal from Gallipoli, the battalion returned to Egypt.
However Michael’s first recorded activity overseas was ‘for breaking out of camp and being absent without leave from 13/1/16 till 17/1/16 at Tel El Kebir’ for which he was given 21 days Field Punishment and forfeited 5 days’ pay. He was transferred to the 2nd Brigade Machine Gun Company at Serapaeum and promoted to corporal in March 1916. Later the same month the unit left Egypt for France. He reverted to private at his own request on 21 November 1916, the same day that ‘when on active service [he was] absent from 0900 Parade. He was up against the authorities again the following May when he was charged with ‘Conduct to the prejudice of good order and nil discipline i.e. neglecting to obey the order of an NCO.’ In October 1917 he spent nearly a month in hospital for an unspecified illness. On 24 February 1918 he was transferred to England for duty on transports to Australia. He returned to Australia on the Durham Castle as staff 18 March 1918. returned to Australia on duty [a second time?] on the Orontes.
He was discharged on 8 August 1918.
Colleen Lawson, emails, 26/01/2017; 10/02/2017