Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Frederick John Ernest Mitchell enlisted for the Australian Imperial Forces (AIF) on the 22nd January 1916 in Adelaide. His Regimental number was 26101 and he joined the 3rd Mechanical Transport Company 4th Reinforcements, Field Artillery Unit, as a driver, for the term of the war. His parents were Frederick (George) and Emily Mitchell. His father was living in Cherry Gardens but his mother was now living in Port Adelaide. Frederick had just turned 23 years of age when he enlisted and was a brown-haired, blue-eyed young man with a “fair” complexion whose occupation was a laborer. He was 5ft 6ins tall and weighed 138lbs. On his medical history it was noted that Frederick had good eyesight and just the one vaccination scar on his left arm. Frederick’s religious denomination was Church of Christ. Frederick embarked for the war on 1st August 1916 on the Orsova out of Melbourne arriving in Plymouth, England on 14th September 1916. He remained in England until the 25th November 1916 when he proceeded overseas to France. He had some leave in England during January 1918 and then returned to France a couple of weeks later. He came down with Trench Fever on 15th May 1918 and was transferred back to England, on 29th May with severe pleurisy to the General Military Hospital in Colchester. He caught pneumonia and on the 5th June 1918 died from heart failure. Frederick had been in serving in France for just over a year and half. Frederick had prepared his last will and testament on 18th July 1917 naming his mother as sole benefactor. He revised this will just before his death naming his sister, Gertrude Emily Mitchell, as sole benefactor. Frederick’s only personal effects were a metal wrist watch, 1 testament, 1 pocket wallet, 2 razors, 3 badges, 1 chain, 3 keys, 3 disks, 5 coins and 1 pay book and these were returned to his father back in Australia. Frederick is buried in England at the Brookwood Cemetery in the Australian Military Burial Grounds Plot 4, row D, grave 16. In his service records it notes that he was buried in a polished elm coffin and was accorded a Military Funeral with a firing party being supplied and pallbearers by AIF soldiers on leave from France.
A service was conducted by Chaplain the Rev A.E. Forbes and the “Last Post” was sounded by a bugler of the AIF London. An oak cross was then erected.

https://www.cherrychatter.org.au/Fallen%20Heroes%20of%20Cherry%20Gardens.pdf