Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Robert Mitchell was one of four boys born to James and Annie Mitchell. James Mitchell was the Registrar of Titles in the Queensland Government and may have been working in Rockhampton at the time of Robert’s birth.

The family relocated to “St Elmo”, Oxley and Robert attended Oxley State School and then Brisbane Grammar School from 1908 to 1911. Robert must have been an exceptional student because at that time, most students left school at year 8 (Scholarship). None of his brothers attended Grammar. The Mitchell home, “St Elmo” became Hopetoun at Corinda before being demolished in 2013.

Robert’s elder brother, James, had enlisted in the 25th Battalion and was seriously wounded in the dying days of the Gallipoli Campaign. Just after receiving the news of James’ wounding, Robert enlisted on 6th December 1915. At the time of signing up, Robert was 22 years old and working as a surveyor. He was originally drafted into a Field Engineers Battalion, where his surveying skills would have been useful but soon after he was transferred into the 4th Pioneer Battalion. Pioneers were essentially front line engineers, engaged in trench and sap digging. They were also combat troops and could be used as infantry.

Robert arrived in Suez on 18th May 1916 and was promoted to acting Sergeant. One month later he disembarked in Marseilles, bound for the large Australian Troop depot at Etaples.  Upon reaching his Unit in July 1916, he reverted to the rank of private.

In July and August 1916, the 4th Pioneers were attached to the 2nd Infantry Division which was engaged in the battle of Pozieres. On 3rd August as the battle of Pozieres culminated in the attack on the windmill, Private Robert Mitchell was killed during an artillery barrage. The Red Cross reports into his death indicate that he was killed outright by the concussion of a large shell. Witnesses reported “there was not a mark on him.”  Robert had been with his unit for 11 days. On the site of the windmill today is a commemorative stone which reads:

“The ruin of the Pozieres windmill which lies here was the centre of the struggle on this part of the Somme Battlefield in July and August 1916. It was captured by Australian troops who fell more thickly on this ridge than on any other battlefields of the war.”

Robert’s mates recovered his body and he was buried at Becourt near Albert. A photograph of his grave was sent to his family, a copy of which is contained in Robert’s military file in the National Archives. Sadly this ground would be fought over again in 1918 and the grave of Robert Mitchell was lost.

Private Robert George Mitchell is also commemorated on the Oxley War Memorial, Brisbane and the Roll of Honour, Great Hall, Brisbane Grammar School. Like the other 10,000 Australians who died in France and have no known grave, Robert Mitchell is commemorated on the tablets at the Australian National Memorial, Villers Bretonneux.

Robert’s brother James, who was wounded on Gallipoli, was discharged as unfit. His wounds entitled him to a Totally and Permanently Incapacitated (TPI) pension and he saw out his days living in Coorparoo. A second brother, Thomas, originally enlisted in the 25th Battalion like James but was transferred to the Pay Corps where he saw overseas service.

Another brother, Corporal Thomas William Mitchell enlisted in the 2nd Field Ambulance. He was awarded the Military Medal for actions under fire in the battle of Polygon Wood in Flanders 1917.

Courtesy of Ian Lang

Mango Hill