MITCHELL, John Lumsden
| Service Number: | 963 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 3 March 1915, An original of C Company |
| Last Rank: | Sergeant |
| Last Unit: | 17th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Culsalmond, Aberdeenshire, Scotland, 1887 |
| Home Town: | Sydney, City of Sydney, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Police constable |
| Died: | Killed in Action, France, 26 June 1916 |
| Cemetery: |
Brewery Orchard Cemetery, Bois-Grenier Plot IV, Row D, Grave No. 26. |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour |
World War 1 Service
| 3 Mar 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 963, 17th Infantry Battalion, An original of C Company | |
|---|---|---|
| 12 May 1915: | Involvement Private, 963, 17th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '12' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: HMAT Themistocles embarkation_ship_number: A32 public_note: '' | |
| 12 May 1915: | Embarked Private, 963, 17th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Themistocles, Sydney | |
| 26 Jun 1916: | Involvement Sergeant, 963, 17th Infantry Battalion, --- :awm_ww1_roll_of_honour_import: awm_service_number: 963 awm_unit: 17th Australian Infantry Battalion awm_rank: Sergeant awm_died_date: 1916-06-26 |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Stephen Brooks
John was the son of James and Eliza Mitchell, of Culsalmond, Aberdeenshire, Scotland. John Lumsden Mitchell came out to Australia during 1906 and joined the NSW Police Force on the 4 November 1907. He was stationed at Broken Hill. He enlisted on 3 March 1915 and was with the 17th Battalion when it landed on Gallipoli during late August 1915. He was promoted to Sergeant a few months later.
He was awarded a Military Medal after the campaign, 'For good work at Gallipoli, especially on the left during the first fortnight, where he had charge of parties bringing in and burying dead bodies exposed to fire, and for general good solid work during the whole time the Battalion was on Gallipoli and also since arrival in France.'
When in France, the 17th Battalion was in the quiet part of the line near Bois Grenier when the German forces shelled Allied lines. During that night, the 26 of June 1916, a shell hit the trench line where John was manning and he was killed instantly.
His name is also remembered on the War Memorial at Culsalmond, Aberdeenshire, Scotland.