MITCHELL, Ralph Eric
| Service Number: | 130 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | Not yet discovered |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 34th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Clapham, London, England, 2 May 1893 |
| Home Town: | Sydney, City of Sydney, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | University School Hastings, England; matriculated London University |
| Occupation: | School Teacher |
| Died: | Asthma and Bronchitis, Weymouth, Dorset, England, 30 December 1916, aged 23 years |
| Cemetery: |
Melcombe Regis Cemetery, Dorset, England |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour |
World War 1 Service
| 2 May 1916: | Involvement Private, 130, 34th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '17' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: HMAT Hororata embarkation_ship_number: A20 public_note: '' | |
|---|---|---|
| 2 May 1916: | Embarked Private, 130, 34th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Hororata, Sydney |
Help us honour Ralph Eric Mitchell's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by Cathy Sedgwick
The summary below was completed by Cathy Sedgwick – Facebook “WW1 Australian War Graves in England/UK/Scotland/Ireland”
Died on this date – 30th December…… Ralph Eric Mitchell was born at Clapham, London, England on 2nd May, 1893.
He enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force (A.I.F.) on9th November, 1915 as a 26 year old, single, School Teacher.
Private Ralph Eric Mitchell, Service number 130, embarked from Sydney, New South Wales on HMAT Hororata (A20) on 2nd May, 1916 with the 9th Infantry Brigade, 34th Infantry Battalion “A” Company & disembarked at Plymouth, England on 23rd June, 1916.
Reinforcements were only given basic training in Australia. Training was completed in training units in England. Some of these were located in the Salisbury Plain & surrounding areas in the county of Wiltshire.
A Medical Report was completed on Private Ralph Eric Mitchell on 1st September, 1916 while at Lark Hill, Wiltshire, England. His disability was listed as Asthma which had originated “years before enlisting, from childhood.” “Has had difficulty & shortness of Breathing – increased on exertion, for a good many years. Also has an inguinal Hernia.” The Officer in charge of the medical case recommended that Private Mitchell be discharged as permanently unfit. The Medical Board found that Private Mitchel was permanently unfit for general service but fit for home service.
A Handwritten note in Service Record file for Private Ralph Eric Mitchell, stamped Central Register, Imperial Force Headquarters, reads: “Pte Mitchell, R. E. of 34 Battn was paraded before a Medical Board on September 4th 1916. The Board recommended him for Home Service as he was unfit for Active Service.”
He was admitted to Military Hospital Fargo, Wiltshire on 5th October, 1916 with Asthma & was discharged on 18th October, 1916.
On 18th October, 1916 Private Mitchell was marched in to No. 2 Command Depot, Weymouth, Dorset from Fargo.
A Medical Report was completed on Private Ralph Eric Mitchell on 21st October, 1916 at No. 2 Command Depot, Weymouth. His disability was listed as Asthma which had originated in England, prior to enlistment. “Went to Australia five years ago on account of Asthma. Was quite free from it while in Australia but as soon as he returned to England Asthma started again.” The Officer in charge of the medical case recommended that Private Mitchell be discharged as permanently unfit & he have a change to Australia. The Medical Board found that Private Mitchel was permanently unfit for general service but fit for home service in Australia.
He was transferred to Weymouth on 22nd October, 1916.
On 27th October, 1916 Private Mitchell was admitted to Hut 80 Hospital until 1st November, 1916 then again from 22nd November, 1916 until 2nd December, 1916.
Private Ralph Eric Mitchell died at 12.57 am on 30th December, 1916 at Camp Hospital, No. 2 Australian Command Depot, Weymouth, Dorset, England from Asthma & Bronchitis. (Statement of Service form recorded he died at Hut Hospital, Monte Video which was part of No. 2 Australian Command Depot. The “Morning State of Sick” form (Army form A27) recorded he died of Acute Asthma, Bronchitis & Broncho Pneumonia at Hut 80 Monte Video.)
He was buried in Melcombe Regis Cemetery, Weymouth, Dorset, England where 82 other WW1 Australian War Graves are located.
(The above is a summary of my research. The full research can be found by following the link below)
https://ww1austburialsuk.weebly.com/m.html
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