MITCHELL, Charles Alfred
| Service Number: | 3471 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 3 October 1916 |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 48th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Wilmington, South Australia , 24 June 1887 |
| Home Town: | Wilmington, Mount Remarkable, South Australia |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Motor engineer |
| Memorials: |
World War 1 Service
| 3 Oct 1916: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 3471, 48th Infantry Battalion | |
|---|---|---|
| 10 Feb 1917: | Embarked AIF WW1, Private, 3471, 48th Infantry Battalion | |
| 31 Aug 1918: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 3471, 48th Infantry Battalion, Mont St Quentin / Peronne |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Sophie Gillies
Charles Alfred Mitchell-Schulz, was born in Wilmington, South Australia, on the 24th of June, 1887. He was the first child of Edith Annie Schulz and Godfred Schulz, having three younger sisters named Annie Edith, Beatrice Lilly and Edith Florence. Before he enlisted in Adelaide as a Private on October 3rd, 1916, he was a single man working as a motor engineer in Wilmington, South Australia.
Charles was thirty when he embarked on the 10th of February, 1917, as part of the 48th Battalion, 9th Reinforcement. He embarked Adelaide and headed for Devonport, England, arriving on the 2nd of June, 1917. After he arrived in Devonport he travelled straight to France to complete some training. Charles trained from June 16th to June 21st.
The 48th Battalion remained in France and Charles proceeded into his first battle. On November 23rd he ended up in hospital and out of his unit. This was because of impaired vision. He was out of his unit until December 24th, 1917. When he re-joined, the Battalion had been called upon to form a working party, digging trenches and making bomb proof walls around the artillery horse lines in Peronne. On Christmas Day a holiday was given to the men. The unit commander wrote in his diary that the day passed off very quietly and a good dinner was given to the men and was much appreciated. The battalion mostly carried out their usual training until the 31st.
From looking through the 48th Battalion's unit diaries and Charles' war records, we can assume that Charles was involved in the Mont St Quentin battle. This battle was carried out from the 31st of August until the 3rd of September, 1918. The ANZAC’s wanted this area because it was a perfect observation point and a vital strategic area. This area was key to the German defence of the Somme line. The allied forces wanted to capture it and possess a valuable position.
Charles disembarked from France and headed home aboard HT Port Napier. He arrived back in Australia on the 12th of May, 1919, and arrived back in Adelaide on the 5th of July. Throughout Charles’ war journey he was awarded three medals, the Victory Medal, the British War Medal, and the 1914/15 Star.
When Charles arrived home, he settled down and married Eileen West Cilento on the 23rd of June, 1920, in Murray Bridge. I have not been able to find any records showing if they moved on to live in Murray Bridge, stayed in Wilmington or moved elsewhere.
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