Joseph Henry MITCHELL DCM

Joseph Henry MITCHELL DCM Update Details

If you confirm that you want to proceed with the update, this record will be locked for editing by all other users until you have finished. You will have 7 days to complete your changes before they will be automatically submitted.

Do you want to proceed?

MITCHELL, Joseph Henry

Service Number:	188
Enlisted:	22 August 1915
Last Rank:	Sergeant
Last Unit:	Tunnelling Companies
Born:	West Wallsend, New South Wales, Australia , 6 November 1893
Home Town:	New Lambton, Newcastle, New South Wales
Schooling:	Not yet discovered
Occupation:	Builder and carpenter
Died:	New Lambton, New South Wales, Australia, 21 January 1962, aged 68 years, cause of death not yet discovered
Cemetery:	Sandgate General Cemetery, Newcastle, NSW ANGLICAN 3-202. 46.
Memorials:

World War 1 Service

22 Aug 1915:	Enlisted AIF WW1, Sergeant, 188, Mining Corps
20 Feb 1916:	Involvement Sergeant, 188, Mining Corps, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '6' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: HMAT Ulysses embarkation_ship_number: A38 public_note: ''
20 Feb 1916:	Embarked Sergeant, 188, Mining Corps, HMAT Ulysses, Sydney
20 Feb 1916:	Involvement Sergeant, 188, Mining Corps, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '6' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: HMAT Ulysses embarkation_ship_number: A38 public_note: ''
20 Feb 1916:	Embarked Sergeant, 188, Mining Corps, HMAT Ulysses, Sydney
14 Dec 1916:	Honoured Distinguished Conduct Medal, At Le Bizet, 24/6/1916: 'For conspicuous gallantry and devotion. When three men had been buried under a parapet by a trench mortar bomb explosion, he at once went to their aid, and by great exertion, under heavy fire, he succeeded in extricating them. The work was done within 60 yards of the enemy. He was so exhausted that he had to be carried away.' Source: 'Commonwealth Gazette' No. 184 Date: 14 December 1919
22 May 1918:	Discharged AIF WW1, Sergeant, 188, Tunnelling Companies, 2nd MD, Medically unfit - arm amputated

Help us honour Joseph Henry Mitchell's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.

Biography contributed by Evan Evans

From Gary Mitchell, Sandgate Cemetery

Served and suffered during The Great War, resting at Sandgate Cemetery.

63 years ago today, on the 23rd January 1962, Sergeant Joseph Henry Mitchell, D.C.M., 1st Australian Tunnelling Company (Reg No-188), builder and carpenter from 125 Regent Street, New Lambton, New South Wales and Russell Road, New Lambton, N.S.W. (1930) and 26 Newton Street, New Lambton, N.S.W. (1954), was laid to rest at Sandgate Cemetery, age 68. ANGLICAN 3-202. 46.

Born at West Wallsend, New South Wales on the 6th November 1893 (Joseph states Wallsend, N.S.W.) to John, died 15.9.1950, New Lambton, N.S.W., age 81, buried at ANGLICAN 3-184. 40, and Jane Mitchell, died 22.1.1959, Hamilton, N.S.W., age 90, sleeping at ANGLICAN 3-184. 40; husband of Dorothy Elizabeth Mitchell nee Hoby, married 4.10.1917, Kentish Town, Middlesex, England, died 29.10.1958, Wallsend, N.S.W., age 63, sleeping here, Joe enlisted on the 22nd August 1915 with the Mining Corps at Newcastle, N.S.W.

Unit embarked from Sydney, New South Wales on board HMAT A38 Ulysses on the 20th February 1916.

Wounded in Action - 27.7.1916 (SW arm, slight), 12.6.1917 (GSW left arm, severe).

Awarded Distinguished Conduct Medal 5.8.1916.
'For conspicuous gallantry and devotion. When three men had been buried under a parapet by a trench mortar bomb explosion, he at once went to their aid, and by great exertion, under heavy fire, he succeeded in extricating them. The work was done within 60 yards of the enemy. He was so exhausted that he had to be carried away.'
'Commonwealth Gazette' No. 184.
14th December 1919.

Awarded the Montenegrin Silver Medal 5.8.1916.
The award of the Montenegrin Silver Medal for Bravery, “awarded by H.M. the King of Montenegro for distinguished service rendered during course of campaign, and dated 31 October 1916” appeared in the London Gazette 9th March 1917, and on the 16th March 1917 a copy of this entry was also forward to Josephs’ father.

Sergeant Mitchell, for an act of conspicuous bravery by rescuing three entombed men at a peril of his own life, was recommended for the V.C. but instead was awarded the D.C.M. and Montenegro Medal, the latter being in addition to the D.C.M. award, in view of the special circumstances connected with the valorous act.

Sergt. Mitchell, who is a New South Welshman, has been the recipient of many congratulations from his comrades. He is regarded as one of the pluckiest of his company, and at all times when there is anything doing in the thick of it.

Commenced return to Australia 21.12.1917.

Joe arrived home on the 12th February 1918 with wife Dorothy, being discharged on the 22nd May 1918.

Mr. Mitchell’s name has been inscribed on the New Lambton War Memorial Gates, Lambton and New Lambton Municipal District Roll of Honor and The Capt. Clarence Smith Jeffries (V.C.) and Pte. William Matthew Currey (V.C.) Memorial Wall.

I have placed poppies at Joe’s gravesite in remembrance of his service and sacrifice for God, King & Country.

Officially commemorated – https://connect.dva.gov.au/.../viewCommemoration.html....

Joe’s son Pilot Officer Jack Mitchell killed during WW2 (22.6.1944) and is memorialised at gravesite and on the Jeffries/Currey Memorial Wall

See Tunnellers - http://www.tunnellers.net/.

Contact with descendants would be greatly appreciated.

For more detail, see “Forever Remembered“.
http://www.commemoratingwarheroes.com/cemetery-main-search/.

Lest We Forget.

Virtual
War Memorial
Australia