Arthur Mitchell
From Our Contribution
Personal Information | |
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Date of Birth | 26 Sep 1906 |
Place of Birth | Birmingham, England |
Age at Enlistment | 33 years, 1 month |
Description | 5'4½" (1.m) tall ; ; fresh complexion ; blue eyes ; brown hair |
Occupation | Farm hand |
Religion | Church of England |
Address | Byford, Western Australia |
Next of Kin | Mother , Mrs Rose Allwood |
Military Information | |
Reg Number | WX1098 |
Date of Enlistment | 9 Nov 1939 |
Rank | Private |
Unit/Formation | 2nd/11th (City of Perth) Australian Infantry Battalion |
Date of Embarkation | 20 Apr 1940 ‒ 7 Jun 1940 |
Ship Embarked On | HMAT Y3 Nevasa Fremantle to Middle East via Colombo |
Date of Return | ‒ 5 Apr 1942 |
Medals |
1939-45 Star Africa Star Defence medal War Medal 1939-45 Australian Service Medal 193945 |
Pre War
War Service
Arthur entered Claremont camp on 11 Dec 1939 and on 18 Dec 1939 he was taken on strength by the 2/11 Battalion. On 10 Jan 1940 he moved to the Northam camp where between 13 and 17 Jan 1940 he was treated for trauma to his thigh muscles. On 14 Feb 1940 he entered the Ingleburn camp in NSW having left Northam camp on 10 Feb 1940. The battalion, including Arthur returned to WA prior to their departure for Kantana in Egypt where they disembarked on 19 May 1940.
After arriving in the Middle East, the 2/11th trained in Palestine and Egypt. A decision to reorganise Australian infantry brigades along British lines, with three battalions instead of four, meant the 2/11th was now part of the 19th Brigade, but it remained part of the 6th Division. The battalion went into action for the first time at Bardia on 5 Jan 1941 and, as part of the Allied advance into Italian-occupied Libya, subsequently fought at Tobruk on 21-22 Jan 1941, and to secure Derna airfield on 25 Jan 1941. It was advancing to the south of Benghazi when the Italians surrendered on 7 Feb 1941.
On 10 Apr 1941 they embarked in Alexandria harbour for Greece. The Allied forces, however, were unable to hold back the attacking Germans. The 2/11th withdrew from its initial positions at Kalabaka and remained on the move until it occupied rearguard positions at Brallos Pass a week later. It fought and slowed the Germans there on 24 April and then continued its withdrawal to Megara, where it was evacuated by sea on the night of 25 Apr 1941. The battalion landed on Crete the next day. It was subsequently deployed with the 2/1st Battalion to defend Retimo airfield, which was held tenaciously for ten days following the landing of German paratroops on 20 May. German successes elsewhere on Crete, however, made surrender inevitable. Many 2/11th soldiers attempted to escape from Crete but only a relatively small number, one of whom was Arthur ultimately succeeded.
On 23 Apr 1941 Arthur was evacuated to the 63rd British General Hospital with lacerations to his right upper arm caused by an accident. On 10 May 1941 he was transferred to the 2nd/2nd Australian General Hospital as he was now receiving treatment for a compound fracture to his Humus and Ulva, as well as the lacerations. On 1 Aug 1941 he was released by the 2/2 Australian General Hospital, and sent to the 19th Infantry training Battalion.
Embarked on the HMT City of Hankow on 13 Mar 1942 he disembarked in Adelaide on 5 Apr 1942. Now relegated to stores work, on 6 may 1942 he was promoted Acting Corporal, and on 23 Aug 1942 to Acting Staff Sergeant. This rank was confirmed on 12 Nov 1942. On 16 Jul 1943 he entrained for Queensland with his colleagues.
On 1 Apr 1944 Arthur married Eileen Maude Slater in York, Western Australia.
On 19 Jul 1944 Arthur was evacuated to the 104th Australian Casualty Clearing Station with arthritis of the elbow. The next day he was admitted to the 2/2 Australian General Hospital until 25 Jul 1944 when he rejoined his unit. A Medical Board examined him on 2 Sep 1944 following which he on 8 Oct 1944 transferred out to Western Command. here he faced another Medical Board who recommended discharge as 'Not able to carry any weight in the right hand, and movements were generally restricted.
Service totalled 1820 days with Active Service of 715 days overseas and 971 days in Australia. Discharged 10 Dec 1944.
Post War
Notes