Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

'For most conspicuous bravery and devotion to duty when the enemy attacked our line, and his first wave succeeded in gaining an entrance. Sergeant McDougall, who was at a post in a flank company, realized the situation, and at once charged the enemy's second wave single handed with rifle and bayonet killing seven and capturing a machine gun which they had. This he turned on to them, firing from the hip, causing many casualties and routing the wave. He then turned his attention to those who had entered, until his ammunition ran out, all the time firing at close quarters, when he seized a bayonet and charged again, killing three men and one enemy officer, who was just about to kill one of our officers. He used a Lewis gun on the enemy, killing many, and enabling us to capture 33 prisoners. The prompt action of this non-commissioned officer saved the line and enabled the enemy's advance to be stopped.'
Source: 'Commonwealth Gazette' No. 150
Date: 24 September 1918
Military Medal

'For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty at DERNANCOURT South West of ALBERT on 5th April 1918 during heavy enemy attack, he took a Lewis Gun to a very exposed position where he could enfilade enemy at close quarters up to 30 yards. he maintained his gun until ti was pierced by a bullet, then crawled 300 yards, got another gun and returned to his post in "No Man's Land" where he was responsible for many dead. Later during our counter-attack he organised a platoon after the officer was killed and led them in the attack. He is absolutely fearless and his contempt of danger is amazing as right throughout his conduct has been of a similar high standard.'
Source: 'Commonwealth Gazette' No. 185
Date: 27 November 1918
Victoria Cross

George Mitchell in "Backs to the Wall", a personal narrative published in 1937, describes the sense of hopelessness in the face of the German offensive.......

"Back in the relief trenches, dug-outs had been cut in the bank, the roof of ours leaked all night but we slept well. Next day more rain and shellfire, some copies of the Daily Mail arrived. ‘Iron Australians’, we read. ‘The Australians have stopped numerous attacks in front of Albert. It is expected, however, that the enemy will enter Amiens tonight’.

One did not require to think hard to see that the paper was preparing the nation for utter collapse. A feeling of gloom seemed to pervade all ranks. For our own capacity we never had a moment of doubt. But of what use would be our efforts if others let Jerry through. The harder we fought, the more certain would be our annihilation. Bitter were our thoughts.

At that time none of us expected to live long, and we had a feeling that over our bodies the enemy would march to complete victory. Our lives not sufficient price to stave this off. The blood and thunder of 1915, 1916 and 1917 passed in review before us. All those – our mates – who went west then. The finest of mates, the best of men, all for nothing. Perhaps they were lucky to go then, they were spared the coming debacle. When our flanking troops would ebb and we would be ringed with fire and steel, we too must die, and in dying look upon the shame of utter defeat.

How those men who had gone west would have laughed at anyone who prophesied our defeat..."


George Mitchell, MC, DCM, "Backs to the Wall", 1937

George Mitchell again

"From the right rear, a new sound – insignificant to the untrained ear – but it was the slow, irregular tack-tack-tack of a German heavy machine gun. Sent information to Imlay, his return note was just a terse comment, ‘Hold your position’. So the line was broken somewhere!

At 1.15pm a bunch of men suddenly burst over the hill, some were wounded, some fell as they ran, I went out to meet them. Asked one man what had happened, he pointed to his face, rags of flesh were all that was left of his lower jaw.

Questioned others – 47th men, “Fritz swamped the 52nd, then pushed artillery into the gap and firing directly into our line, blew us to pieces.” “You are being surrounded, you will be captured if you don’t get back.”

Then came the last survivors of the front line garrison, bitterly they fought, as though their lives were already forfeit, stopping to swap shots with their pursuers. They fired and moved in a desperate heroic gesture, hard-faced, they passed into security beyond my trench. The world had fallen, the Australian line had been broken, not even pride was left. Tears of grief ran down my face."

George Mitchell, MC, DCM, "Backs to the Wall", 1937

George Mitchell continues...

"Suddenly as the raising of a curtain, the fog lifted. My eyes bulged as I saw at the railway crossing 1000 yards away, lines and masses of enemy – men and guns. The sight of the pack mass of men, wagons and guns made my mouth water. What a target for our guns! Immediately fired two green flares, that was our SOS, our barrage came down. Two eighteen pounders, all that was left with ammunition, or un-hit by German shells. A saga could be written of our gunners that day.

Went over to investigate the sound of rifle fire from my right, there was a party of the 47th battalion solemnly desperate, making a stand on my flank. Advancing grey-green hordes in front, I stood by the young sergeant-in-charge and said “Get to blazes out of this, it is death here.” But there was a job to do, and this was virtually all that was left of the gallant and brave 47th battalion, all but wiped out. Told him, “Hold this position, if you can”.

Left this gallant, doomed group, with a heavy heart. My platoon was blazing away at the multitude of targets. I spaced three of my precious men across the gap between, shortly after a salvo of enormous black shrapnel burst over them, we went across and all were dead. Went to the flank of the 47th party, most of them finished also. Futile and hopeless!

Tears were still running down my face, rage and injured pride. Sent an NCO across to the 47th, he did not return. I went over myself. Wiped out! Every man lay face down and silent behind his silent gun, every man and every weapon faced the closing enemy. Even in that moment, I felt a thrill of pride and pity."

George Mitchell, MC, DCM, "Backs to the Wall", 1937

George Mitchell .. the culminating point

‘Backs to the Wall!’ Backs to hell, and old ‘Nick’ reaching out with his pitchfork. We could not hear our own rifles above the din, only knew by the recoil that we had fired. I could feel the sidelong glances from the men, and the unspoken thought, ‘How are you going to get us out of this mess?’ ‘Poor blighters, my job is to keep you here till you are done for, not get you out.’


On three sides, they closed in, only the way to company headquarters was open. Suddenly a runner dived in and I read the message, ‘Retire immediately.’ Down the bank once more and out on the lower plain, futile bullets pecked the ground as I trudged. What did it matter? Only a question of today, tomorrow, or the next day!


To my delighted eyes, there stretched a well-sited, newly dug trench lined with capable looking Australians. Eager questions assailed me ‘Where is he, when is he coming?’ ‘Massing over the hill’ I replied, ‘here in about twenty minutes.’ ‘We’ve got him now, we’ve got him!’

Sorted out my platoon and led them to the extreme left where there was a gap. A roar of small-arm fire came from the right, a 13th brigade battalion, the 49th, swept forward into the gap. We watched as they swung along with irresistible momentum, the ranks thinned as they went, here and there groups shot and stabbed. Ahead of them ran field grey figures, the gap is closed by good Australian bayonets! No further attack came from Fritz.

Down came their gunfire on us, the worst I ever experienced. Big shells punched the rocking earth with appalling fury, smoke rolled in clouds, had a bad attack of wind-up, and the taste of death was in my mouth. If I live through this, I thought as I lay in a heap, I will never be any good anymore. Ten shells a second, I calculated, landed on our hundred yards of front. Slowly the fire died away, the 2nd division came up and relieved us, we assembled our weary few and marched back."

George Mitchell, MC, DCM, "Backs to the Wall", 1937