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Jim Mitchell was born James McNicol Mitchell on 28th December 1908 at Mount Gambier. Jim was named after his father James McNicol Mitchell Snr. Jim was one of five siblings from his father’s second marriage to a Fanny Davies. Two of Jim’s older siblings, a brother also named James McNicol and a sister named Florence Jane did not survive past their first year leaving Mary the eldest daughter, Jim the second oldest and a younger brother Peter. Jim’s father’s first marriage to Elizabeth Lange produced one offspring, Walter, a half brother to Jim. Elizabeth passed away in 1894.

Jim attended the Kalangadoo Public School between 1917 and 1920. Jim completed his higher school education at Scotch College Adelaide and in Form V Agriculture excelled in studying dairying, live-stock, amongst others with Jim taking out the Form Prize. He was also awarded a Special Essay Prize presented by the Adelaide Chemical Company. Similarly in Form VI Agriculture he excelled, also taking out the Form Prize (Medal).

After schooling Jim carried on the farming tradition of his father at Gumflat, Kalangadoo as FM Mitchell & sons, growing potatoes, wool production and other crops.

Jim volunteered for service with the Army on the 14th May 1940 aged 31 and enlisted in the 2nd AIF. As indicated by his service number SX2766 Jim was one of the early volunteers from South Australia.

Private Mitchell, Army training at Wayville South Australia once completed saw him commence service with the 8th Division Cavalry as a Group III Driver Mechanic at Seymour Victoria.

Jim embarked for overseas on the 14th April 1941 with the 9th Division Cavalry Regiment on HMT MM Convoy US 10 disembarking in the Middle East in May 1941.

Shortly after their arrival in Palestine, the unit was to participate in the forthcoming Syrian campaign The 9th Division Cavalry Regiment were equipped with Vickers Light Tanks Mark VIB and various types of Machine Gun Carriers on arrival in the Middle East. Contact was first made with the Vichy French Forces at Jezzine on the 14th June 1941. The unit acquired some Vichy French Renault R35 Tanks which were taken into action at Baroda Gorge.

At the completion of the Syrian Campaign, the regiment returned to Palestine for rest and retraining. In January 1942 Private Mitchell returned to Syria, engaging in reconnaissance work and patrolling of northern Syria.

By the beginning of July the Regiment moved into the desert becoming involved in several tank versus tank engagements. The Cavalry did not play a major role during the battles of Alamein, being held in divisional reserve.

In early November, the regiment was chosen as the advance guard to lead the division in the westward advance. The Eighth Army’s advance, however was too fast, and as the 9th Division was being withdrawn to serve in South West Pacific theatre, the Cavalry did not take part in the pursuit of the Afrika Korps.

By January 1943 the unit was on its way back to Australia. Private Mitchell disembarked during February 1943 and attended a parade for returning soldiers in Melbourne.

Private Mitchell was transferred from the 2nd 9th Division Cavalry (Commando) Regiment to the 2nd 12th Australian Commando Squadron. Following the units formation, the squadron began training on the Atherton Tablelands in Queensland where they were based throughout 1944 and 1945.

Private Mitchell was discharged from the Army on the 9th October 1945.

His total service was 1,975 days with 689 days served aboard.

Jim was awarded the following medals for his service during World War II:

The 1939-1945 Star
The 1939-1945 Africa Star with 8th Army Clasp
The 1939-1945 Australian Defence Medal
The 1939-1945 Australian War Medal
The 1939-1945 Australian Service Medal

After discharge on 9th October 1945 Jim returned to Gumflat Kalangadoo to work the family farm with success in production of Merino wool and cropping.

Jim met Mary Teresa McComish an Irish immigrant from Belfast and they later married. Jim and Mary had six children with the first being born in 1953. Mary Patricia, James McNicol, Stewart McNicol, Jane Anne Isabella and Cathleen Fanny. The youngest of the six children David McNicol Mitchell passed away not long after birth in 1966.

Jim was a tough but fair person and always had a good word of advice for his children. His caring can be seen in the few letters sent to his children later in life.
He loved his Scottish music, the bagpipes, and especially Jimmy Shand, with regular playing of records both 78s and LPs on the old record player.

Jim loved fishing but with the farming life and war memories, did not get much of a chance to do this with memorable moments of camping at the Woolwash near Port MacDonnell.

He was a great teacher about farm life and how to hunt, especially how to catch rabbits during the winter months when the rabbit warrens were flooded.

Like most soldiers Jim did not talk much about his war experiences.

Jim passed away peacefully at Penola in 1984 aged 75 years with his ashes being scattered over the place he called home, Gumflat.