Per his military service record (Depot), George Alfred Ruddock was born at St Peters, Sydney, N.S.W.[1] He gave his age as 23 years and 7 months, his marital status as single, and his occupation as labourer. It was noted on his Attestation Paper of Persons Enlisted for Service Abroad that he could ‘understand buchering’. His description on his Certificate of Medical Examination was height 5 feet 11 ½ inches tall, with a dark complexion, blue eyes, and dark brown hair. His religious denomination was Roman Catholic. He claimed that he had no previous military service.
His Application to Enlist in the Australian Imperial Force form was dated 29th October 1915, and he gave his postal address as C/o Mrs Wm. Hall, Gordon Cottage, Warriga Street, Katoomba.
His next of kin was recorded on his Attestation Paper as Mrs Kate Murphy, 4 Portland Street, Waterloo, Sydney, N.S.W.
He was named (as ‘A. G. Ruddock’) in The Blue Mountain Echo as one of the men who enlisted with the Coo-ees at Katoomba.[2]
He completed his medical examination on 5th November 1915 at Katoomba. He was attested by Lieutenant F. Middenway at Katoomba on the same day.
After completing the Coo-ee March he went to Liverpool Camp as reinforcement for the 13th Battalion.
On 4th February 1916 Private Ruddock was examined by a Medical Board. His Detailed Medical History of an Invalid form recorded that he had ‘varicose veins of left leg’, that ‘has probably been aggravated by marching’.
On 23rd March 1916 Private Ruddock was discharged from the Australian Imperial Force medically unfit.
Corp. Hitchens, Pte. F Duncan, Sydney Mail, 25 Oct. 1916, p. 26
Per his military service record (regimental no. 4767), Frank Duncan was born at Bourke, N.S.W.[1] He gave his age as 22 years and 3 months, his marital status as single, and his occupation as labourer. His description on his Certificate of Medical Examination was height 5 feet 10 inches tall, weight 154 lbs., with a dark complexion, brown eyes, and black hair. His religious denomination was Church of England. He claimed to have had no previous military service.
Frank Duncan completed his medical examination, along with several other men from Cobar, at Dubbo on 2nd November 1915, (the day the Coo-ees were at Lithgow). He was attested at Dubbo on 7th November 1915. It appears he then caught up with the other Cobar boys (including Walter and Robert Mitchell, Andrew Lennox and Norman Francisco), to join the Coo-ee March somewhere in the Blue Mountains.[2]
After completing the Coo-ee March he went to Liverpool Camp as reinforcement for the 13th Battalion.
On 13th January 1916 Private Duncan was charged with Being Absent Without Leave (1 day).from Liverpool Camp. He was fined 5 Shillings. On 7th February 1916 he was charged with Being Absent from Piquet. He was fined 5 Shillings.
A farewell was held at the Masonic Hall in Cobar on Friday 3rd March 1916 to bid farewell to Cobar boys Private Duncan and brothers Private Bob Mitchell and Corporal Walter Mitchell, when they were on final leave before departing overseas. [3]
On his embarkation roll his address at time of enrolment was Monaghan Street, West Cobar, N.S.W., and his next of kin was listed as his father, F. Duncan, at the same address.[4]
On 8th March 1916 Private Duncan, along with many of the other Coo-ees, departed Sydney on the HMAT A15 Star of England, with the 15th reinforcements for the 13th Battalion.
He arrived in Egypt on 11th April 1916.
On 16th April 1916 Private Duncan was transferred to the 4th Pioneer Battalion at Telelkebir.
On 4th June 1916 Private Duncan left Alexandria aboard the Transport Scotian bound for France. He arrived at Marseilles on 11th June 1916. He was then sent to the 4th Australian Division Base Depot at Etaples, France.
On 27th August 1916 Private Duncan was sent to hospital sick, and on 28th August 1916 he was admitted to the 11th Stationary Hospital at Rouen, France, suffering a concussion of the brain. (A later memo entry in his service record notes that ‘This soldier whilst asleep fell on to a stone floor from top bunk (bunks three tiers high) soldier not to blame’, which appears to relate to this injury).[5] On1st September 1916 he was placed aboard the Hospital Ship Salta at Le Havre. On 2nd September 1916 he was admitted to the Meath Hospital at Dublin in Ireland. On 9th October 1916 he was transferred to the Holywood Military Hospital in Ireland. On 24th October 1916 he was transferred to the 1st Australian Auxiliary Hospital at Harefield, England. On 31st October 1916 he was discharged from Hospital and sent to the No. 2 Command Depot at Weymouth, England.
On 4th November 1916 Private Duncan was granted leave to report to the No.4 Command Depot at Wareham, England on 18th November 1916, where he marched in from furlough on 20th November 1916.
On 22nd January 1917 Private Duncan was charged with Being Absent Without Leave from 9.30 pm on 14th January 1917 till 2.30 pm on 19th January 1917. He was awarded 144 hours detention and forfeited 12 days pay.
On 29th March 1917 Private Duncan was transferred to the No.3 Command Depot at Hurdcott, England.
On 11th April 1917 Private Duncan was charged with Failing to obey Routine Orders by being out of bounds and of Being Absent Without Leave from 7 am on 7th April 1917 till 11.30 pm on 7th April 1917. He was awarded 6 days confined to camp.
On 14th April 1917 Private Duncan was transferred from Hurdcott to the Australian H. & D. Depot at Perham Downs. On the 21st of April 1917 he was transferred to the Pioneer Training Battalion at the No. 4 Camp at Perham Downs, England.
On 26th May 1917 Private Duncan was transferred to the No. 1 Command Depot at Perham Downs, England.
On 13th June 1917 Private Duncan was charged with Being Absent Without Leave from 12 noon on 11th June 1917 till 3 pm on 12th June 1917. He was admonished and forfeited 2 days pay.
On 16th July 1917 Private Duncan was detached for duty with the Headquarters of the AIF Depots in the United Kingdom. He returned to the No. 4 Camp at Perham Downs on 3rd August 1917.
On 12th February 1918 Private Duncan departed Southampton, England bound for France. He arrived at the 4th Australian Division Base Depot at Le Harve, France on 13th February 1918.
On 15th February 1918 Private Duncan was charged with Being Absent Without Leave from 10 pm on 13th February 1918 till 10 pm on 14th February 1918. He was awarded 16 days field punishment no. 2 and forfeited 18 days pay.
Private Duncan re-joined the 4th Pioneer Battalion in France on 20th February 1918.
On 1st March 1918 Private Duncan was detached from the 4th Pioneer Battalion for duty with the 184th Tunnelling Company. He re-joined the 4th Pioneer Battalion on 24th March 1918.
On 12th September 1918 Private Duncan was sent to the 12th Australian Field Ambulance sick. On 13th August 1918 he was moved to the 41st Stationary Hospital. On 16th September 1918 he was transferred to the 1st Stationary Hospital at Rouen. On 18th September 1918 he was transferred to the 39th General Hospital at Le Harve, France. On 12th November 1918 he was discharged and sent to the 4th Australian Division Base Depot. He departed the 4th Australian Division Base Depot on 17th November 1918 and re-joined the 4th Pioneer Battalion on 19th November 1918.
On 27th January 1919 Private Duncan marched into the Australian Division Base Depot at Le Harve, France to commence his return to Australia. On 10th February 2019 he departed Le Havre, for England. He arrived at Weymouth, England on the 11th of February 1919 and marched into the 3rd Training Brigade.
On 16th March 1919 Private Duncan was sent to Hospital suffering from a Septic Hand. On 19th March 1919 he was transferred to the 1st Australian General Hospital at Sutton Veny. He was discharged on 31st March 1919 and returned to the 3rd Training Brigade.
On 13th April 1919 Private Duncan departed England on the Transport Commonwealth, bound for Australia.
He arrived in Sydney on 12th June 1919, and was discharged Medically Unfit on 18th September 1919.
[2] Corp. E. J. Hitchins [sic], Pte F. Duncan. (1916, October 25). Sydney Mail (NSW : 1912 – 1938), p. 26. Retrieved September 17, 2022, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article160388889 ; Kay Stingemore, From the Far West to the Western Front : Cobar and the Great War, Cobar : Great Cobar Heritage Centre, c2015, p. 192.
[3] Cobar’s Farewell. To Corporal Mitchell, Privates Mitchell and Duncan. (1916, March 10). Western Age (Dubbo, NSW : 1914 – 1932), p. 2. Retrieved September 17, 2022, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article136721446
[4] Australian War Memorial. First World War Embarkation Rolls, Fred Duncan, HMAT Star of England A15, 8th March 1916.
[5] NAA: B2455, DUNCAN F., Casualty Form – Active Service Regimental No. 4767, Pte. Frank Duncan, entry for Memo from C.O. 4th Pioneer Btn AIF, France, to 3rd Echelon G.H.Q. 25 January 1917.
Per his military service record (Depot), Cormack Peter Smith was born at Katoomba, N.S.W.[1] He gave his age as 30 years and 6 months, his marital status as single, and his occupation as labourer. His description on his Certificate of Medical Examination was height 5 feet 9 inches tall, weight 140 lbs., with a dark complexion, hazel eyes, and black hair. His religious denomination was Roman Catholic. He claimed that he had no previous military service.
His next of kin was recorded on his Attestation Paper as his mother, Mrs Ellen Smith, Katoomba, N.S.W.
He completed his medical examination on 5th November 1915 at Katoomba. He was attested in Katoomba on the same day.
After completing the Coo-ee March he went to Liverpool Camp as reinforcement for the 13th Battalion.
On 24th November 1915 Private Smith was charged with Not on List but Present in Camp. He was fined one day’s pay.
On 9th January 1916 Private Smith was charged with desertion. A note on the charge record in his military service record noted ‘Deserves punishment but had an invalided family to look after’.
The New South Wales Police Gazette recorded that ‘Cormack Peter Smith, military deserter, had been arrested by Katoomba Police, and handed over to the military authorities.[2]
On 10th March 1916 Private Smith was discharged Services no Longer Required.
[2] Apprehensions. (1916, March 15). New South Wales Police Gazette and Weekly Record of Crime (Sydney : 1860 – 1930), p. 152. Retrieved August 14, 2022, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article251742718
Standing in a large crowd at the Dawn Service at Dubbo War Memorial this morning, I thought about Coo-ee Wilfred Ernest McDonald, along with all the fallen local young men, whose names are remembered there on the Roll of Honor plaques, who died during the First World War, and other wars since.
I remembered that his family, like many others, kept his memory alive by on the anniversary of his death, every year for many years, by placing a family notice in the local newspaper. This was the notice placed in The Dubbo Liberal one hundred years ago by his family in 1921:
I thought about the many Commonwealth war cemeteries and war memorials Stephen and I have visited over the years, in France, Belgium, England, Israel, and Turkey, including those for the 41 fallen Coo-ees, and remembered seeing all the flowers, little Australian flags, photographs, and other mementos that were placed by family members and others when they visited the graves of the fallen, and on the memorials built to remember those who have no known grave.
Hopefully the COVID-19 restrictions will eventually cease, so that we can continue to visit the memorials and graves of our fallen servicemen and servicewomen around the world, to remember, and pay our respects to the fallen.
I have taken the opportunity while commemorating ANZAC Day this year from home due to the COVID-19 pandemic restrictions to update a few web pages on the 1915 Coo-ee March website.
Visit the Coo-ee March Roll of Honour web page https://cooeemarch1915.com/honour-roll to read about and remember the 41 Coo-ees who died during active service during the First World War, and view the photographs that Stephen and I have taken of their graves, or war memorials where their name is remembered, for those who have no known grave. This includes the grave of Trooper Henry William Nicholls buried in the Jerusalem War Cemetery who joined the Coo-ees at Molong, whose grave we visited on 20th January this year.
The story of the Coo-ees did not finish with their arrival in Sydney on 12th November 1915 at the end of the Coo-ee March.
Based on our research, read what was happening to individual Coo-ees who served overseas during the First World War each month from February 1916 until November 1918 which is collated on the WWI Timeline web page https://cooeemarch1915.com/category/wwi-timeline, dating from 16th February 1916, when the first group of fifteen Coo-ees embarked overseas on active service from Sydney on the HMAT Ballarat A70.
I still plan to write a book about the Coo-ees, but my research is not yet finished, and there will be copyright permissions to obtain to include the photographs.
On 20th January 2020 Stephen and I drove to Jerusalem War Cemetery in Jerusalem, Israel.
Due to light rail work being undertaken along the front of the cemetery, access via the front gate was not possible, and we had to enter the cemetery by a side gate next to the hospital.
Jerusalem War Cemetery is located next to the Hadassah Hospital, and is about 4.5 kilometres north of the old walled city of Jerusalem.
Burials in Jerusalem War Cemetery began after the occupation of Jerusalem by Allied forces in December 1917.
There are 2,515 Commonwealth burials from the First World War in this cemetery, which includes 100 unidentified graves.[1] The Jerusalem Memorial is also situated within the cemetery, which commemorates 3,300 Commonwealth soldiers who died in operations in Egypt or Palestine during the First World War, who have no known grave.
Henry William Nicholls, a contractor who had been working at Coonamble when he enlisted in the A.I.F. and joined the Coo-ees at Molong, is the only Coo-ee buried in this Cemetery.
Trooper Nicholls was killed in action on 7th May 1918 when enemy aeroplanes bombed the 7th Light Horse Regiment camp at Jericho, Palestine.
The photograph below shows Trooper Nicholls’ headstone at Jerusalem War Cemetery.
Grave of Trooper W. H. Nicholls at Jerusalem War Cemetery (Photograph: S. & H. Thompson 20/2/20)
A photograph of the headstone on Trooper Nicholls’ grave has been placed on his individual blog entry, and on his entry on the Roll of Honour for the fallen Coo-ees on this blog.
Per his military service record (regimental no. 4764), Thomas Delaney was born at Parramatta, N.S.W.[1] He gave his age as 31 years and 1 month, his marital status as married, and his occupation as labourer. His description on his Certificate of Medical Examination was height 5 feet 3 inches tall, weight 119 lbs., with a medium complexion, blue eyes, and brown hair. His religious denomination was Church of England. He claimed that he had no previous military service.
His ‘Joined on’ date on his Attestation Paper was 11th November 1915 (the day the Coo-ees marched from Parramatta to Ashfield). He completed his medical examination and was attested at Ashfield on 11th November 1915.
After the Coo-ee March he went to Liverpool Camp as reinforcement for the 13th Battalion.
‘Tom Delaney’ was one of 14 ‘local boys’ (along with several other Coo-ees) to be presented with a sheepskin vest and a money belt, and a wristlet watch, at a farewell held in the Elite Hall in Guildford on Thursday 9th December 1915.[2]
On his embarkation roll his address at time of enrolment was Woodville Road, Guildford, N.S.W., and his next of kin was listed as his wife, Mrs R. M. Delaney, at the same address.[3]
On 8th March 1916 Private Delaney, along with many of the other Coo-ees, departed Sydney on the HMAT A15 Star of England, with the 15th reinforcements for the 13th Battalion.
Troopship HMAT A15 Star of England. Australian War Memorial Collection AWM H17014.
He arrived in Egypt on 11th April 1916.
On 16th April 1916 he transferred to the 4th Pioneer Battalion at Tel El Kebir, Egypt.
On 4th June 1916 Private Delaney left Alexandria aboard the Transport Scotian bound for France. He arrived at Marseilles on 11th June 1916.
He served with the 4th Pioneer Battalion in France and Belgium.
On the 24th of January 1917 the 4th Pioneer Battalion was conducting works in the vicinity of Longueval, France when Private Delany was admitted to the 13th Australian Field Ambulance, then transferred to the ANZAC Corps Rest Station with Rheumatism.[4] On 31st January 1917 he was transferred by Ambulance Train to the 2nd General Hospital where he was admitted on 1st February 1917, and diagnosed with Myalgia.
On 25th February 1917 Private Delaney was sent to the 4th Australian Division Base Depot at Etaples, France.
On 14th March 1917 he rejoined the 4th Pioneer Battalion when it was resting in the vicinity of Longueval, France.[5]
On 23rd July 1917 Private Delaney was detached to the 2nd ANZAC Corps School.
Private Delaney rejoined the Battalion on 15th August 1917 when it was conducting works in the vicinity of Kemmel Hill, Belgium.[6]
On 21st September 1918 Private Delaney was granted leave to England.
On 7th October 1918, whilst on leave, Private Delaney was admitted to the 1st Australian Dermatological Hospital at Bulford, England, sick. He was discharged from hospital to the Convalescent Training Depot at Parkhouse, England, on 11th November 1918.
Private Delaney marched into the No.1 Command Depot at Sutton Veny, England, on 26th November 1918.
On 15th January 1919 Private Delaney commenced his return to Australia aboard the HMAT City of Exeter.
He arrived in Australia on 6th March 1919. He was discharged Medically Unfit on 20th March 1919.
[2] FAREWELLING. (1915, December 11). The Cumberland Argus and Fruitgrowers Advocate (Parramatta, NSW : 1888 – 1950), p. 5. Retrieved November 15, 2018, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article86106306
[3] Australian War Memorial. First World War Embarkation Rolls, Thomas Delaney, HMAT Star of England A15, 8th March 1916.
[4] Australian Imperial Force unit war diaries, 1914-18 War, AWM AWM4 Subclass 14/16 – 4th Australian Pioneer Battalion, AWM4 14/16/11 – January 1917 ; NAA B2455, DELANEY T
[5] Australian Imperial Force unit war diaries, 1914-18 War, AWM AWM4 Subclass 14/16 – 4th Australian Pioneer Battalion AWM4 14/16/13 – March 1917
[6] Australian Imperial Force unit war diaries, 1914-18 War, AWM AWM4 Subclass 14/16 – 4th Australian Pioneer Battalion, AWM4 14/16/18 – August 1917
Per his military service record (Depot), Thomas McGrory was born at Glasgow, Scotland.[1] He gave his age as 32 years and 2 months, his marital status as single, and his occupation as boxer. His description on his Certificate of Medical Examination was height 5 feet 10 inches tall, weight 13 stone 2 lbs., with a fair complexion, brown eyes, and brown hair. His religious denomination was Roman Catholic. He claimed that he had 8 ½ previous military service as a Corporal in the Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders in the British Army.
His next of kin was recorded on his Attestation Paper as his mother, Mrs M. McGrory, 360 Brunswick Street, Fitzroy, Melbourne, Vic.
He was named in the Leader as one of the men who enlisted with the Coo-ees at Orange.[2]
He completed his medical examination on 24th October 1915 at Orange. He was attested by Captain T. A. Nicholas at Orange on the same day.
While the Coo-ees were at Lithgow, Private McGrory was charged by Captain A. C. Eade with being absent without leave on 1st November 1915, and was fined one pound.
After completing the Coo-ee March he went to Liverpool Camp as reinforcement for the 13th Battalion.
Private McGrory went absent without leave from the 16th until the 22nd of December 1915 when he was arrested by the Civil Police at Circular Quay. He went before a Civil Court on the 23rd of December where he was fined three pounds for an unknown offence, He was then handed to the Military Police who escorted him to Victoria Barracks where he was placed under guard.
On 24th of December Private McGrory broke guard and went absent without leave again till the 28th of December 1915.
On 29th of December 1915 Private McGrory was discharged from the Australian Imperial Force not likely to become an efficient soldier.
Thomas McGrory was involved in hearing at the Central Police Court on 25th January 1916, followed by a court case on 6th March 1916 at the Darlinghurst Quarter Sessions, in which he was charged with having assaulted another Coo-ee (Private Daniel Lynch) at Central Railway Station about midnight on January 16th 1916, and robbed him of two pounds and five shillings.[3]
According to Thomas McGrory’s statement, ‘he and Lynch and several other soldiers had been drinking together’, and ‘a general fight ensued, and that was all there was to it’. He claimed ‘he did not attack Lynch in the way alleged, and did not rob him’, and that ‘he joined the Coo-ees at Orange, and became acquainted with Lynch on the march down’.[4] Thomas McGrory was subsequently found guilty by the jury and was remanded for sentence.
Per his military service record (Depot), Thomas Culley was born at Waterloo, Sydney.[1] He gave his age as 30 years and 5 months, his marital status as married, and his occupation as labourer. His description on his Certificate of Medical Examination was height 5 feet 4 inches tall, weight 142 lbs., with a fair complexion, blue eyes, and grey hair. His religious denomination was Roman Catholic. He claimed that he had no previous military service.
His next of kin was recorded on his Attestation Paper as his wife, Mrs T Culley, 13 Centre Street, Redfern, Sydney, Vic.
Thomas Culley caught a train from Geurie to Orange on a rail ticket issued on 22nd October 1915, where he joined the Coo-ees.[2]
He was named in the Leader as one of the men who enlisted with the Coo-ees at Orange.[3]
He completed his medical examination on 24th October 1915 at Orange. He was attested by Captain T. A. Nicholas at Orange on the same day.
After completing the Coo-ee March he went to Liverpool Camp as reinforcement for the 13th Battalion.
On 7th December 1915 Private Culley was charged with being absent without leave from 3rd December 1915 until 7th December 1916. He was fined 10 shillings.
On 23rd February 1916 Private Culley was charged by Courts Martial with being absent without leave from the Liverpool Camp from 21st December 1915 until 31st January 1916. He was sentenced to 60 days detention.
On the 1st May 1916 Private Culley went absent without leave again at Kiama. On 23rd May he was posted as a deserter and a warrant was issued for his arrest.
[2] Letter from Capt. W. T. Hitchen to Superintendent of Lines Sydney dated 4th November 1915 in: Alex Halden (Joe) Miller papers mainly relating to the Gilgandra Coo-ee Recruitment March, New South Wales, 1912-1921, 1939. Gilgandra Coo-ee Recruitment March correspondence and papers, 1915-1939.
Per his military service record (regimental no. 4843), Robert Alexander Gordon Mitchell was born at Cobar, N.S.W.[1] He gave his age as 27 years and 6 months, his marital status as single, and his occupation as labourer. His description on his Certificate of Medical Examination was height 5 feet 9 ½ inches tall, weight 154 lbs., with a fair complexion, grey eyes, and light brown hair. His religious denomination was Presbyterian. He claimed to have had no previous military service.
A send-off was held on Thursday 28th October 1915 at the Court House Hotel in Cobar for Robert and his brother Walter Mitchell, Norman Francisco, and Andrew Lennox, and they were then cheered by many friends when they left Cobar by train on 30th October 1915 to join the A.I.F.[2]
Robert Mitchell completed his medical examination, and was attested with the other three men at Dubbo on 2nd November 1915, (the day the Coo-ees were at Lithgow).
Robert and his brother Walter Mitchell, Andrew Lennox, and Norman Francisco then travelled to catch up with the Coo-ees, and were waiting to join the Coo-ee March when the Coo-ees arrived at Mt. Victoria two days later, on 4th November 1915.[3]
After completing the Coo-ee March he went to Liverpool Camp as reinforcement for the 13th Battalion.
A farewell was held at the Masonic Hall in Cobar at the Masonic Hall on Friday 3rd March 1916 to bid farewell to Private Bob Mitchell and his brother Corporal Walter Mitchell, when they were on final leave before departing overseas. [4]
On his embarkation roll his address at time of enrolment was Cornish Town, Cobar, N.S.W., and his next of kin was listed as his mother, Mrs E. A. Mitchell, Cornish Town, Cobar, N.S.W.[5]
On 8th March 1916 Private Mitchell, along with his brother Walter, and many of the other Coo-ees, departed Sydney on the HMAT A15 Star of England, with the 15th reinforcements for the 13th Battalion.
Troopship HMAT A15 Star of England. Australian War Memorial Collection AWM H17014.
He arrived in Egypt on 11th April 1916.
On 16th April 1916 Private Mitchell was transferred to the 4th Division Artillery at Tel-el-Kebir, and taken on strength of the 10th Field Artillery Brigade, and mustered Driver.
On 22nd May 1916 Driver Mitchell was transferred to the 110th Australian (Howitzer) Battery.
On 5th June 1916 Driver Mitchell left Alexandria aboard the HMT Oriana bound for France. He arrived at Marseilles on 13th June 1916.
On 21st September 1916 Driver Mitchell was sent to the 1st Australian Field Ambulance with a hernia. On 30th September 1916 he was moved back to the 50th Casualty Clearing Station. On 3rd October 1916 he was admitted to the 3rd Canadian General Hospital at Boulogne, France. On 9th October 1916 he was transferred to the 26th General Hospital at Etaples, France.
On 10th October 1916 he was placed aboard the Hospital Ship Stad Antwerpen at Calais for evacuation to England. On 11th October 1916 he was admitted to the Queen Mary’s Military Hospital at Whalley, England.
He was discharged from hospital and went on leave from 12th February 1917 to 27th February 1917, then reported to the No. 1 Command Depot at Perham Downs, England.
On 30th April 1917 Driver Mitchell was charged with being absent without leave from noon on 25th April 1917 till 1545 on 28th April 1917. He was awarded 7 days confined to camp and fined 4 days pay.
Driver Mitchell departed Southampton, England, on 19th June 1917. He arrived at the Australian General Base Depot at Rouelles on 20th June 1917.
He rejoined the 10th Field Artillery Brigade on 5th July 1917.
On 22nd January 1918 Driver Mitchell went to Paris on leave. He was due to return to his unit on 31st January 1918, however did not return until 4th February 1918.
On 8th February 1918 Driver Mitchell was sent to the 2nd Casualty Clearing Station sick. On 9th February 1918 he was placed aboard the 37th Ambulance Train and moved to the 39th General Hospital at Le Harve, France, where he was admitted on 12th February 1918.
On 12th April 1918 Driver Mitchell was court martialed for failing to obey Hospital Orders in that on 4th April 1918 whilst a patient at the 39th General Hospital was gambling contrary to Order 19 which forbids gambling. He was found guilty and awarded 10 days Field Punishment no. 1.
Driver Mitchell was discharged from hospital on 21st April 1918 and sent to the Australian General Base Depot at Le Harve, France.
He rejoined his unit on 3rd May 1918.
On 10th May 1918 a Field General Court Martial was held where Driver Mitchell was charged with when on active service being absent without leave from 31st January 1918 till 4th February 1918. He was found guilty and awarded 21 days field punishment no. 2 and fined 120 days pay.
On 25th August 1918 Driver Mitchell went on leave. He rejoined the 10th Field Artillery Brigade on 14th September 1918.
On 28th January 1919 Driver Mitchell went to Paris on leave. He returned to his unit on 11th February 1919.
On 4th March 1919 Driver Mitchell marched into the Australian General Base Depot at Le Harve, France, to commence his return to Australia.
On 13th March 1919 he departed France, arriving at Weymouth on 14th March 1919. He then marched into the No. 4 Command Depot.
On 1st May 1919 Driver Mitchell departed England aboard the Transport China bound for Australia.
He arrived in Australia on 11th June 1919.
He was discharged Termination of Period of Enlistment on 26th July 1919.
1915 Coo-ee March 