William John Mitchell (abt. 1880)

Born about 25 Feb 1880 in Bethanga, Victoria, Australia

Ancestors

Husband of Myra Grace Louisa (Griffiths) Walker — married about 1909 (to about 1924) in New South Wales, Australia

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Biography

William John Mitchell was born 25 February 1880 at Bethanga, Colony of Victoria Australia. He is the son of John Mitchell and Mary Kay.^[1]

In 1909 William John Mitchell married Myra G Griffiths at Tumbarumba, New South Wales, Australia.^[2]

William and Myra are known to have had two children, Richard Fersdon Mitchell born as Nathanial Fersdon Mitchell^[3], and William Thomas Mitchell^[4]. Both had their births registered at Tumbarumba, New South Wales, Australia in 1911 but separately, that is, not like twins. RIchard Mitchell later served in the Australian Armed Forces during WW2 using a birth date of 30 August 1908 so his birth was possibly late registered (noting that birth is also prior to marriage).

On 11 January 1915 William John Mitchell enlisted with the First Australian Imperial Force (1st A.I.F.) and was deployed to the Gallipoli campaign on 30 May 1915 with the 4th reinforcements 7th Battalion. He was wounded on 18 July 1915, bomb wound to arm and hip, and after hospitalisation in Malta evacuated to Australia on the Ascanius on 4 September 1915. He was discharged for medical reasons on 12 April 1916. Williams military file has been scanned and is available online at National Archives of Australia.^[5]

In 1924 Myra Grace Louisa Mitchell was granted a divorce from William Thomas Mitchell in the State of New South Wales, Australia on the grounds of desertion.^[6][7]

Noting further is known of the life of William Mitchell although a letter to Army Base Records in 1934 gives an address of Hargraves, New South Wales, Australia.

Research Notes

The following newspaper article seems to refer to William in 1903. If so he was sentenced to 18 months gaol at Wagga Wagga for false pretences and there is a prisoner photo available. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article145480171

It is possible NSW death notice 7289/1961 refers to William.

Sources

1. ↑ Victorian Government, Births, Deaths and Marriages Victoria, Search historical indexes, https://www.bdm.vic.gov.au/research-and-family-history/search-your-family-history, Registration Number 625/1880
2. ↑ New South Wales Government, Registry of Births, Deaths, and Marriages, Search historical indexes, https://www.bdm.nsw.gov.au/Pages/family-history-research/family-history-research-nsw.aspx, Registration Number 2672/1909
3. ↑ New South Wales Government, Registry of Births, Deaths, and Marriages, Search historical indexes, https://www.bdm.nsw.gov.au/Pages/family-history-research/family-history-research-nsw.aspx, Registration Number 34181/1911
4. ↑ New South Wales Government, Registry of Births, Deaths, and Marriages, Search historical indexes, https://www.bdm.nsw.gov.au/Pages/family-history-research/family-history-research-nsw.aspx, Registration Number 9954/1911
5. ↑ National Archives of Australia, B2455, MITCHELL William John : Service Number - 1786 1150 85722 : Place of Birth - Granya VIC : Place of Enlistment - Melbourne VIC - Next of Kin - (Wife) MITCHELL Myra Grace Louisa, https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/ViewImage.aspx?B=7982595
6. ↑ New South Wales Government, State Archives and Records, NRS-13495-11-[13/13200]-1333/1923 | Divorce papers Myra Grace Louisa Mitchell William John Mitchell, 29-10-1923 to 29-10-1925
7. ↑ National Library of Australia, Trove, Historical Newspapers Online 1924 'IN DIVORCE.', The Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842 - 1954), 21 October, p. 6. , viewed 09 Apr 2020, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article16165395