LIEUT COLONEL MITCHELL

Evening Post, Volume XCVIII, Issue 146, 18 December 1919, Page 10

LIEUT COLONEL MITCHELL

Lieut.-Colonel G. Mitchell, the new member for Wellington South, is a veteran of two wars. He was born at Balclutha, Otago, being one of a. family of fourteen children, and went to work at the early age of eleven years *s a driver on a baker's cart. Ultimately he worked' his way into th.c positioa of a 1 commercial traveller. He took part in the South African campaign, enlisting in the First New Zealand Contingent, serving throughout the, Boer "War as trooper and sergeant. In the war just concluded he left, -with the Main Body, and saw service in Egypt and on Oallipoli, where he was severely wouTided. He was subsequently (as Major) aprjointed CO. of the Auckland - Wellington Training Battalion in Egypt, and (as Lieut.-Colonel) acted in a similar capacity in the New Zealand Reserve Brigade, Salisbury Plain, England. Though handicapped by an injured leg, be never rested until he secured an appointment in France, and is Commandant of the New Zealand Base' Depot at Etaples, and subsequently fts CO.. of the Entrenching Battalion, he performed his responsible duties so efficiently as to secure special mention in despatches. In addition to the D/.5.0. Lieut.-Colonel Mitchell was the recipient of the Karageorge (Servian) decoration, with, swords. . ..