Michael was born in 1919 in Rochford, Essex to Elijah Harry and Sarah née Spiegel. Michael’s father Elijah emigrated from Russia and became a naturalised British subject in 1913. Elijah worked as a furrier in Spitalfields, London and at the time of Michael’s death he was living in Camelford Street, Brighton. Michael had three sisters, Esther, Miriam who married Mitchell Isaacs and Pearl who married Sydney Yess.

Michael was the wireless operator on Blenheim Z7296 which departed RAF Horsham St Faith to bomb the chemical plant at Mazingarbe. While crossing the French coast the aircraft was hit by flak killing the navigator Frank Woodcock and wounding the pilot Denis Adams. The pilot managed to keep control of the aircraft but came under attack from a Messerschmitt. The aircraft was hit again and Denis told Michael to bale out but got no response. Denis managed to bale out just before the aircraft exploded and on landing he was captured. The remains of the aircraft crashed at La Galerie, France.

Obs, Frank Woodcock, 1003989, killed
Pilot Denis Adams, RAAF, baled out and captured.