MITCHELL, James Summerville
| Service Number: | 2934 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | Not yet discovered |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 52nd Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Juniper Green, Midlothian, Scotland, 18 January 1870 |
| Home Town: | Nurinda, Somerset, Queensland |
| Schooling: | Tonbridge Grammar School, Kent, England |
| Occupation: | Farmer |
| Died: | Acute Bronchitis, Westcliffe-On-Sea Hospital, Westcliffe, Essex, England, 8 February 1917, aged 47 years |
| Cemetery: |
Southend-on-Sea Cemetery, Essex, England Grave reference: E. 3440. |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour |
World War 1 Service
| 27 Oct 1916: | Involvement Private, 2934, 52nd Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '19' embarkation_place: Brisbane embarkation_ship: HMAT Marathon embarkation_ship_number: A74 public_note: '' | |
|---|---|---|
| 27 Oct 1916: | Embarked Private, 2934, 52nd Infantry Battalion, HMAT Marathon, Brisbane |
About James S. Mitchell
James Mitchell was born in Scotland. His father farmed at Haddington, a town close to the Scottish border with England.
In about 1890 the family moved south to a farm in Warlingham, Surrey, England.
James married in 1896 and in 1911, he and his wife and five children emigrated to Australia and settled in Queensland at a farm known as Island Farm in a small town, Nurinda. His wife, Hilda, was also born in England.
In 1916, although by now 46 years of age, he volunteered to fight in France and saw action at the Battle of Mouquet Farm in the Somme area on the French/Belgian border.
James died of acute bronchitis at Rochford in Essex, England in February 1917.
I had assumed acute bronchitis was actually Spanish Flu, but this illness did not arrive in Europe for another year, so this is unlikely.
James is the uncle of my grandfather. In some documents he is described as the son of the well-known, Dr Graham Mitchell of Whitburn, Scotland, but this is not true. He is the grandson of Dr Mitchell, his father was William James Mitchell, a farmer.
In some documents his name is shown as James Summerville Mitchell. This is also incorrect as, in the Scottish tradition, he was named after his mother, whose maiden name was Somerville.
Submitted 14 March 2021 by Nicky Amos
Biography contributed by Geoffrey Gillon
His age at death was given as 46; his death was registered in Rochford, Essex-at that time, this was the Registration District for Southend-on-Sea.
Deaths Mar 1917 Mitchell James S 46 Rochford 4a 944
Biography contributed by Evan Evans
The summary below was completed by Cathy Sedgwick – Facebook “WW1 Australian War Graves in England/UK/Scotland/Ireland
Died on this date – 8th February…… James Summerville Mitchell was born in Edinburgh, Scotland on 18th January, 1870.
James Sumerville Mitchell (also in the name of James Summerville Mitchell on England & Wales Civil Registration Marriage Index 1837 - 1915) married Hilda Grey in 1896. Their marriage was registered in the district of Edmonton, Middlesex, England on December quarter 1896.
According to information provided by his wife for the Roll of Honour – James Mitchell came to Australia when he was 30 years old. James Mitchell (Farmer, aged 41), his sons - William (aged 10) & Graham (aged , along with his wife Mrs Hilda Mitchell (aged 33) & their daughters – Grace (aged 13), Hilda (aged 11) & Ada (aged 5) were passengers on Commonwealth which had departed from London, England on 2nd February, 1911 bound for Australia. (Names were listed in order they were listed on Passenger List).
James Sommerville Mitchell enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force (A.I.F.) on 2nd December, 1915 stating he was aged 40 years & 11 months, married & a Draper.
He was posted to “C” Company, 42nd Battalion, & applied for 8 days Home Leave (4 days at home & 2 days there & back) as his wife was seriously ill. On 23rd February, 1916 Private Mitchell was granted 6 days Home Leave. He telegrammed Captain Hearn, O.C., 42nd Battalion, Thompson Paddock, Enoggera Camp on 28th February, 1916 “Wife very ill, returning Wednesday.”
Private J. S. Mitchell, Thompson Paddock, wrote to the O.C., 42nd Battalion on 8th March, 1916 with the following letter: “I herewith apply for my Discharge as my wife is in a very bad state of health. Should anything happen to her this would leave seven young children destitute in a country with no friends as my home is in England.”
Hilda Mitchell wrote the following letter from Lismore on 9th March, 1916: “I am desirious of my husband J. S. Mitchell getting his discharge owing to the state of my health.”
Captain A. R. Heron, O/C 42nd Battalion wrote to Camp Commandant on 13th March, 1916 recommending a discharged for Private J. S. Mitchell.
Private James Sommerville Mitchell was discharged from the Australian Imperial Force on 20th March, 1916 at his own request owing to his wife’s illness.
James Summerville Mitchell re-enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force (A.I.F.) on 20th September, 1916 stating he was a 42 year old, married (with 3 children), Farmer from Brisbane, Queensland. He stated on his Attestation Papers that he had previously served for 16 weeks with A.I.F. in Brisbane but had been discharged owing to his wife’s illness.
On 27th October, 1916 Private James Summerville Mitchell, Service number 2934, embarked from Brisbane, Queensland on HMAT Marathon (A74) with the 52nd Infantry Battalion, 7th Reinforcements & disembarked at Plymouth, England on 9th January, 1917.
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.
Private James Summerville Mitchell died on 8th February, 1917 at Westcliffe-On-Sea Hospital, Westcliffe, Essex, England from Acute Bronchitis.
He was buried in Sutton Road Cemetery, Southend-On-Sea, Essex, England where 6 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/southend-on-sea...
Click images to start slideshow.