Born in Temora on January 10, 1919, World War II veteran Michael Paice moved to Griffith as a young child.
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He enlisted in the CMF at Griffith on February 28, 1940 as a Lance Corporal in C Company 53 Australia Infantry battalion and was eventually discharged on November 28, 1941.
On the very same day of his discharge he re-enlisted as a Private in the 55/53 Australian Infantry Battalion, he was 22 and married at the time.
During his 687 days of service overseas Private Michael Paice was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal (DCM) which came about from an act of great heroism.
“He displayed outstanding bravery whilst a member of a fighting patrol which attacked Japanese positions on Smith Hill in the Piaterapaia area, Bougainville on 8 February 1945,” the recommendation for the award read.
“Private Paice was in the position of third scout in the patrol when it came under heavy fire of MG, SMG rifles and grenades from the Japanese positions.
“The Leading scout, Private K. Elliot was wounded and whilst trying to go to his assistance Private Paice and Lietenant Ryan again came under heavy fire. Ryan was wounded and Paice assisted him back to the patrol position.
“He made another attempt to get to Elliott but found he was mortally wounded but was close enough to kill two Japanese and silenced a Japanese post with his OSMG.
“Private Paice's courage and determination assisted material in the result achieved by the patrol in killing five Japanese and inflicting heavy casualties on the remainder. Lieutenant Ryan walked back with his patrol but died later of his wounds."
Private Paice was discharged on January 24, 1946 after serving a period of 1519 days.
He died on February 15, 1956, leaving behind a wife and five children.
His oldest child, Moreen Corner, was just 14 at the time of his death but will always remember the time spent with him.
“As a 14-year-old he was just my father, he did what needed to be done for us," she said.
“He worked when he could, which wasn't all the time because of his health, but at that age you don't ask questions so we knew nothing basically about what he did over there.
“As you get older you think maybe we should have asked questions but at 14 he's working, we're at school and that's just life.
“He loved his veggie garden, he loved to read and loved his family.”
