MITCHELL, Walter John
| Service Number: | 442957 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 29 October 1941, Mount Gambier, SA |
| Last Rank: | Not yet discovered |
| Last Unit: | Not yet discovered |
| Born: | Mount Gambier, South Australia, 7 April 1922 |
| Home Town: | Mount Gambier, Mount Gambier, South Australia |
| Schooling: | Mt. Gambier High, South Australia -Grade 10 completed |
| Occupation: | Plasterer, Owner |
| Died: | Cancer, Mount Gambier, South Australia, 13 December 2008, aged 86 years |
| Cemetery: |
Carinya Gardens Cemetery, Mount Gambier, South Australia She-Oak Garden Plot- 42 Row: N |
| Memorials: |
World War 2 Service
| 29 Oct 1941: | Enlisted Mount Gambier, SA | |
|---|---|---|
| 3 Apr 1944: | Involvement 442957 | |
| 3 Apr 1944: | Enlisted Adelaide | |
| 3 Apr 1944: | Enlisted 442957 | |
| 26 Nov 1945: | Discharged |
John Mitchell's Story
Walter John Mitchell was born in Mt. Gambier on April 7th, 1922 ...the first born son of Stephen Alpheus Mitchell and Alma Louise Von Einem.
For 19 years John lived with his parents and 2 younger brothers, Colin and Kenyon, in the family home on Eleanor Street.....attending Mt. Gambier High School until completing grade 10 ...at which time he began working as a ceiling plasterer.
In 1941, like so many other young men, he joined the army leaving Mt Gambier for training in Adelaide. (It was in Adelaide that he offered a redheaded gal a ride home from a dance at the Glenelg Town Hall, and when she readily accepted, he apologetically told her he didn't have a car, but only a push-bike. ....Well, that side-saddle ride on the crossbar of a push bike was the beginning of 65 years of marriage.)
John later transferred to the air force where he trained briefly as a pilot (brief because he found his stomach unable to withstand the aerial loops and rolls). He then transferred to communication.
These war years were formative years for developing relationships and work ethics that were to last his lifetime.
John and Ethel (nee Parker) were married in 1943. Their first son, Robert John Mitchell, was born the following year in Adelaide.
In November of 1945, John left the forces and moved his family back to Mt Gambier ... in fact into a room at the back of the family home. Their second son, Trevor Ross, was born in April of 1946. At this time John was once again working as a plaster for Tilley Bros.
John was a family man, a good provider, who was never afraid of hard work
In 1955, after being the manager for 3 years, he became the owner of Tilley Bros. He worked right alongside everyone until his retirement in 1993.
In his retirement, he continued to do the occasional “job” ... restoring homes with classic cornices and beautiful ceiling centerpieces.
He and Ethel also managed to travel around Australia in their caravan, and following that, they spent several winters in Queensland. As he aged, his time was spent working in his yard and gardens, or running around town doing errands, or perhaps an overnight fishing trip to their river shack at Donavons.
John's was a life lived to the fullest - a world rich with family and friends, an endearing smile, a quiet laugh … a true gentleman.
Submitted 18 November 2022 by Robert Mitchell
Biography contributed by Robert Mitchell
Walter John Mitchell was born in Mt. Gambier on April 7th, 1922 ...the first born son of Stephen Alpheus Mitchell and Alma Louise Von Einem.
For 19 years John lived with his parents and 2 younger brothers, Colin Alpheus and Kenyon Aubrey, in the family home at 10 Eleanor Street.....attending Mt. Gambier High School until completing grade 10 ...at which time he began working as a ceiling plasterer.
In 1941, like so many other young men, he joined the army leaving Mt Gambier for training in Adelaide. (It was in Adelaide that he offered a redheaded gal a ride home from a dance at the Glenelg Town Hall, and when she readily accepted, he apologetically told her he didn't have a car, but only a push-bike. ....Well, that side-saddle ride on the crossbar of a push bike was the beginning of 65 years of marriage.)
John later transferred to the air force where he trained briefly as a pilot (brief because he found his stomach unable to withstand the aerial loops and rolls). He then transferred to communication.
These war years were formative years for developing relationships and work ethics that were to last his lifetime.
John and Ethel (nee Parker) were married in 1943. Their first son, Robert John Mitchell, was born the following year in Adelaide.
In November of 1945, John left the forces and moved his family back to Mt Gambier ... in fact into a room at the back of the family home. Their second son, Trevor Ross, was born in April of 1946. At this time John was once again working as a plaster for Tilley Bros.
John was a family man, a good provider, who was never afraid of hard work
In 1955, after being the manager for 3 years, he became the owner of Tilley Bros. He worked right alongside everyone until his retirement in 1993.
John was accepted into the Mount Gambier Rotary Club where he delighted in the communty and service they provided.
In his retirement, he continued to do the occasional “job” ... restoring homes with classic cornices and beautiful ceiling centerpieces.
He and Ethel also managed to travel around Australia in their caravan, and following that, they spent several winters in Queensland. As he aged, his time was spent working in his yard and gardens, or running around town doing errands, or perhaps an overnight fishing trip to their river shack at Donovan's Landing .
John's was a life lived to the fullest - a world rich with family and friends, an endearing smile, a quiet laugh … a true gentleman.
NOTE: John's wife, ETHEL MARY MITCHELL, can be found on her own Veteran's Memorial page as she also served during WWII
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