PR Phot: SGT Michael (Mike) Coleridge
SGT Michael Coleridge (1933-2012) deserves a mention here as a renowned Army PR Photographer with HQAF Vietnam.
I won’t fill this post with finite detail, as his time with Army PR is well documented at the Australian War Memorial (AWM) and available in following links.
I look forward to seeing comments added below from any members who may have worked with or known him.
Career detail is here:
http://www.awm.gov.au/blog/2012/01/13/mike-coleridge-1933-2012/
The image of SGT Coleridge in this post comes from here:
https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/P00232.001/
You’ll note from the caption that the photo (likely posed) was used for an oil painting by official war artist, LT Bruce Fletcher. More detail on him and his work is here:
https://www.awm.gov.au/people/P65056/#biography
I couldn’t find an image of the ‘Mad Mike’ painting, which is held by the AWM, however, there is a pic of LT Fletcher with some of his paintings – taken by SGT Coleridge – here:
http://www.awm.gov.au/collection/EKT/67/0027A/VN/
Another interesting exhibit at the AWM is SGT Coleridge’s ID Tags:
http://www.awm.gov.au/collection/REL35614/
Remember to Comment or Add any anecdotes relating to Mike – so that we can flesh out the man behind the story for our History.
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Graeme Henley added the following:
Please find attached the death notice for Mike Coleridge. His funeral was attended by myself and a contingent of Image Specialists from the 1st Joint Public Affairs Unit.
One of our Image Specialists, now WO2 Neil Ruskin, as a CPL in 2006, tracked down Mike. He lived near the ACT and was invited to the unit to meet his modern day counterparts. He was a great source of inspiration to our Image Specialists.
Happy to share stories Mike share with me as to what he was thinking when he’s cameea was rolling on several known films… I also have a copy of audio of a contact which he use to like to share what he was thinking as he taped (i gave the original to the AWM..
I still think of my father every day and the stories he told me about the Vietnam War. I watch my daughter Julia and her interest as an artist and know that her skill came from both my husband and my father.
A a member of the WRAAC (Women’s Royal Australiam Army Corps) night on 50 years ago, I was attached to Public Relations in Victoria Barracks in 1965 for a short time where I met Mike. I have just been showing photos of my time in the army to my granddaughter & came across several photos Mike took of me there. I also have photos of me with Mike. I am 81 years old now but boy, did those bring back memories. I knew he went to Vietnam but lost track of him after that. So glad he has left an enduring legacy of Vietnam with his wonderful photos.