Arthur Mitchell
From Our Contribution
 | |
| Personal Information | |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | 26 Sep 1906 |
| Place of Birth | Birmingham, England |
| Death | 16 Aug 1999 |
| Place of Death | Olbury, Western Australia |
| Age at Enlistment | 33 years, 1 month |
| Description | 5'4½" (1.64m) 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 | Staff Sergeant |
| Unit/Formation | 2/11th Australian Infantry Battalion |
| Military Movement | |
| 1st Departure from Australia | |
| Journey Dates | 20 Apr 1940 ‒ 7 Jun 1940 |
| Transport Details | HMT Y3 Nevasa Fremantle to Port Tewfik, Egypt via COlombo |
| Transfers | |
| Journey Dates | 10 Apr 1941 ‒ 12 Apr 1941 |
| Transport Details | SS Pennland Alexandria, Egypt to Pireaus, Greece |
| Return to Australia | |
| Journey Dates | 13 Mar 1942 ‒ 5 Apr 1942 |
| Transport Details | SS City of Hankow Middle East to Adelaide |
| Post War Details | |
| Fate |
Injured in Greece Returned to Australia |
| Monument(s) | ANZAC Memorial Park (Byford) |
| Medals |
1939-45 Star Africa Star Defence Medal War Medal 1939-45 Australian Service Medal 1939-45 Greek Commemorative War Medal 1940-41 |
Pre War
War Service
Arthur entered Claremont camp on 11 Dec 1939 and on 18 Dec 1939 he was taken on strength by the 2/11th Australian Infantry 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 from HMT Y3 Nevasa 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 on SS Pennland 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 aboard SS Thurland Castle on the night of 25 Apr 1941. Arthur missed his battalion's traumas on Crete, after being injured accidentally in Greece, incurring lacerations to his right upper arm on 23 Apr 1941.
Evacuated to Egypt he was admitted to the 63rd British General Hospital. On 10 May 1941 he was transferred to the 2/2nd 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 2/2nd Australian General Hospital, and sent to the 19th Australian Infantry Training Battalion. Arthur was involved in the rebuild of the 2/11th Battalion in Palestine during 1941/42 and on 6 Feb 1942 was graded as a Technical Storeman Grade III.
Arthur embarked on the SS City of Hankow on 13 Mar 1942, and with the rest of the newly rebuilt battalion he disembarked in Adelaide on 5 Apr 1942. Now allocated 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, six weeks after his marriage on 20 May 1944 to Roberta Frances.
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 2/2nd Australian General Hospital until 25 Jul 1944 when he rejoined his unit. A Medical Board examined him on 2 Sep 1944 following which he was, on 8 Oct 1944 transferred out to Western Command. Here he faced another Medical Board which recommended discharge as he was 'Not able to carry any weight in the right hand, and movements were generally restricted'.
Service totaled 1820 days with Active Service of 715 days overseas and 971 days in Australia. Arthur was discharged 10 Dec 1944.
Post War
Electoral Roll entries: 1954 - 1972 Oldbury, Mundijong settler; 1980 Lot 246 Gossage road, Mundijong
Notes