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Auction: 24112 - Orders, Decorations and Medals - e-Auction
Lot: 604

(x) Four: Private A. W. Mitchell, South African Army, who was wounded by shrapnel as a result of a Ju.88 attack on 17 July 1942 at El Alamein, and who later transferred over to the South African Naval Forces

1939-1945 Star; Africa Star with 8th Army clasp; War and Africa Service Medals 1939-45, all named '75161 A. W. Mitchell', good very fine (4)

Arthur Walter Mitchell was born on 16 March 1913 and worked as an accounts clerk before enlisting into the Duke of Edinburgh's Own Rifles on 20 May 1940. He saw service in Kenya, Italian Somaliland Abyssinia, Eritrea and Egypt and was wounded in action on 17 July 1942 with a shrapnel wound to the back.

The Duke's in El Alamein

When Rommel struck on 17 July, a composite battalion group containing two companies of the Dukes, commanded by Captain P. J. O'Sullivan and Captain D. A. H. Wells, was sent out on a diversionary operation, but ran into heavy shell fire from positions which were not expected to be strongly held. Sergeant E. W. Gush of the machine-gun detachment was mortally wounded and Private A. L. D. Kennedy and Private B. C. Stassen were killed. As the force withdrew at dusk more than twenty JU.88's flew over to bomb it. Company Sergeant Major E. G. B. Weston was killed, and the number of Dukes wounded that day rose to twenty three.

Mitchell spent time in 106 General Hospital until 17 August 1942. Several months later he embarked at Suez on 1 January 1943 and disembarked at Durban on 14 January 1943. He transferred to the South African Naval Forces on 14 April 1944 until 15 October 1945 and was discharged on the 19 October 1945. His medal entitlement is confirmed on his service papers.

Subject to 5% tax on Hammer Price in addition to 20% VAT on Buyer’s Premium.

Sold for
£70

Starting price
£50