Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Harold Lawson MITCHELL was born on 25th August 1891 in Moss Vale, New South Wales, Australia, the third of five children born to parents Elizabeth (née DIMMOCK) and Archibald MITCHELL.

A single, 24 year old farmer at the time, Harold enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force at Lismore NSW on 18th October, 1915.  After completing his basic recruit training with No. 2 Depot Battalion at Thompson's Paddock Enoggera, Queensland on 14th November, Harold was assigned as a Trooper, regimental number 2186, and allocated to the 15th reinforcements for the 2nd Light Horse Regiment.  Harold embarked in Brisbane aboard HMAT "Commonwealth" on 28th March 1916, for active service overseas.

Following his arrival in Egypt, Harold was admitted to Government Hospital in Suez on 5th May 1916, with a mild case of mumps.  He was taken on strength with the 1st Double Squadron in Serapeum, on 6th July 1916.  These Units were raised in May in order to cope with an excess of reinforcements for Light Horse units, and were utilised in a dismounted role to defend the Suez Canal against an anticipated attack by the Ottomans.  On 18th September 1916, Harold was admitted to the 17th General Hospital in Alexandria with pyrexia (fever) of unknown origin (PUO), which was described as being severe.  He was discharged to duty on 7th October, at which time he was taken on strength with the 1st Light Horse Training Regiment in Moascar. 

After completion of training, Harold was taken on strength with the 4th Camel Regiment in Abbassia on 2nd November 1916, but subsequently transferred to the 5th Light Horse Regiment in Abbassia on 23rd December 1916, joining his elder brother Allan.  Together, they both remained members of this Unit for the rest of the War.

Soon after Harold joined them, the 5th Light Horse Regiment (LHR) left Egypt and moved into Palestine as part of the ANZAC Mounted Division of the Egyptian Expeditionary Force.  The Desert Mounted Column, as they became known, were tasked with carrying out patrols, seeking out and attacking Ottoman outposts and fortifications.  Following defeats at the 1st and 2nd Battles of Gaza (26th March, and 17-19 April 1917 respectively), a stalemate ensued until October that year.

Harold was in Port Said Rest Camp from 24th September to 4th October 1917, for some much-needed respite from the oppressive desert conditions.  He returned to duty in time to take part in the Southern Palestine offensive, pursuing the retreating Ottoman forces, which began after the Battle of Beersheba on 31st October 1917.  On that date, the 5th LHR were in Wadi Hanein in preparation for their upcoming operations in the Jordan Valley, with the Unit Diary entry lamenting, "As soon as the Regiment moved down from Amman into the (Jordan) Valley, the sick parades increased and there were many evacuations daily from malaria and other febrile complaints.  There were 122 evacuations from sickness during the month, exceeding the total evacuations sick during the previous two years.". 

For the first half of 1918, the 5th LHR were holding the West bank of the Jordan River.  They took part in the heavy fighting during the Raid on Es Salt between the 1st and 3rd May 1918, which ultimately failed in its objective.  In the final advance, the 5th LHR took part in the Battle of Amman on 25th September, the capture of Ziza on 29th September, then Damascus, before the surrender of the Ottoman Empire on 30th October 1918.  This "Armistice of Mudros" resulted in the end of the War in the Middle East, when the 5th LHR returned to Egypt.  They went on to assist in quelling a riot during the Egyptian Revolution in March 1919, before heading home.

On 27th June 1919, Harold embarked aboard the HMAT "Madras" in Kantara, Egypt, for return to Australia.  He was admitted to the ship's sick bay for four days from 1st July with a fever, believed to be malaria.  Harold disembarked in Sydney on 3rd August, and subsequently arrived in Brisbane by train two days later.  Harold was discharged in the 1st Military District, Brisbane, on 27th September 1919, due to the termination of his period of enlistment.  He was later awarded the British War Medal and the Victory Medal for his service.  

On 31st December 1929, Harold married Mary Cecilia "Molly" BOWDEN at St. Ita''s Catholic Church, Dutton Park, Brisbane.  They went on to have two daughters.  On 30th March 1942, Harold enlisted in the Volunteer Defence Corps at Eumundi, being taken on strength with the 6th Battalion VDC at Nambour as a Private, service number Q204876.  A 50 year old dairy farmer living with his family in Doonan at the time, Harold served on part-time duty, being promoted to the rank of Lance Sergeant on 31st October 1942.  He was discharged on 19th October 1945, due to the disbandment of the Corps following the end of World War 2.

Harold Lawson MITCHELL died in Queensland on 1st August 1966, aged 74.  He was interred in the Eumundi Cemetery, Sunshine Coast, Queensland.

Compiled by Karan CAMPBELL-DAVIS from historical records held by the National Archives of Australia (Service Record);  Australian War Memorial (5th Light Horse Regt. Unit War Diaries);  Births, Deaths and Marriages NSW & Qld;  Find A Grave website;  and various newspaper articles on Trove.