Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

 Enlisted and served under alias Jack Mitchell

From Gallipoli, 1915

Pte. Jack Mitchell, “C” Company, 25th Battalion Australian Infantry, A.I.F., was shot through his left hand while dismounting a periscope rifle around 11.40 p.m. on 28th October 1915.

An inquiry was held the following day, which concluded that “the injury was caused accidentally through neglect on the part of the N.C.O. in charge of the group from which the rifle was removed.” [1]

His hand was eventually amputated but gangrene set in and he died aboard the hospital ship 'Devanha' on 11th November 1915. Buried at sea, he is commemorated on the Lone Pine Memorial.

After his death he was found to have enlisted under an alias, his real name being Bertie Bell. He had deserted his wife, Millie Esther Bell, and daughter, who lived at 55 Church Street, Lidcombe, New South Wales. He married Laura de Sales Bandera bigamously on 13th March 1912 and had two children with her. She remarried after 'Jack Mitchell's' death, becoming Laura de Sales Gagliardi, of Farrington Street, Alderley, Enoggera Railway Line, Queensland.

His legal wife claimed and received a widow's pension, campaign medals and memorial plaque, despite 'Mitchell' making his will in favour of his second wife. The Commonwealth War Graves Commission record his name as Jack Mitchell.