Ancestor Details
Ancestor's Name: Charles Henry Mitchell
Ancestor's date of birth: 17/07/1857
Ancestor's date of death: 12/11/1907
Cause of Death: Cancer of intestine
Service and Life Before the Boer War: Born in West Maitland, New South Wales. Was married with two children working as a Courthouse keeper when he enlisted in the NSW Infantry service number 55 on the 18 February 1885. Served in the Sudan, departing 3 March 1885, returned 23 June 1885.
Service Number: 141
Colony or State of enlistment: NSW Place of Enlistment: Maitland
Unit: 1st New South Wales Mounted Rifles
Rank attained in Boer War: PTE, Date Effective: 1899
Highest Rank attained (if served after war): No evidence of post Boer War promotion.
Murray Page: 69
Contingent: First New South Wales
Ship: Aberdeen, Date of Sailing: 04/11/1899
Memorial details: Maitland Boer War Memorial
Awards/Decorations/Commendations: Khedive of Egypt's Starr. Queen's South Africa Medal with clasps. King Edward VII Coronation Medal.
Personal Characteristics: Detail not provided.
Reasons to go and fight: Detail not provided.
Details of service in war: From December 1899 in north-west Cape Colony, Free State, and Transvaal. Invalided to Australia, arriving 24 November 1900.
Service and life after the Boer War: Chosen for the New South Wales contingent at King Edward VII's coronation. Was not well after his return. His death was but a few years later.
Sydney Morning Herald 20 February, 1885 (pages 7, column 8, page 8 columns 1 & 2) "Enlistments - Private Charles Henry Mitchell, 4th Regiment"
Sydney Morning Herald (MSW 1842 -1954) Wednesday 12 December 1900 (page 7, Column 7)
"West Maitland, Tuesday. Private Charles H Mitchell, who returned from South Africa recently, was entertained at a smoke concert in the Military Hall to-night by the officers and men of B Company, 4th Regiment. Private Mitchell was presented with a handsome Waltham watch suitably inscribed."Sydney Morning Herald, Thursday 14 November 1907 (page 6, column 7)
"Charles Henry Mitchell, well known in connection with the military forces, died on Tuesday evening at West Maitland, after a long illness, aged 50. He served as a private in the Australian Infantry Force in the Soudan campaign and South African war. He was present as a member of the Colonial Contingent at the King's coronation, and held the Khedive of Egypt's Starr and the South African medal. He will be accorded a military funeral."
Descendant Details
Name of Descendant: Trevor Graham Mitchell, St Huberts Island NSW
Relationship to Ancestor: Great Grand son
