FARMERS’ HEROISM

Greymouth Evening Star, 23 May 1942, Page 5

FARMERS’ HEROISM

BRITISH COAST THRILLS (Recd. 10.5) LONDON, May 22. Probably unique in British history, a farmer and his helpers have been decorated for carrying on a farm on the British coast nearest Europe, despite enemy attacks. The “London Gazette” announces the award of the George Medal to Gilbert W. J. Mitchell, the B.E.M. to Mrs. Mitchell and Miss G. L. Harrison, who is now a tractor driver in the women’s land army. Theicitation states: “The Mitchells and Miss Harrison made an unexampled effort to show sustained bravery and devotion to duty, carrying on farming under enemy gunfire and air attacks. The farm is scarred with filled-in shell holes. The buildings are probably in the most vulnerable country, yet work was carried on throughout the battle of Britain and ever since. Raiders machine-gunned the farm, and land-work had to be stopped, but despite all difficulties and dangers, there was no change in the routine of milking and attending to stock. Mitchell and Miss Harrison when cutting corn, often took over under a tractor or binder to escape the raiders’ machine gunning. Mitchell was once driving a tractor, when a balloon was shot down in flames, and the burning fabric fell across the tractor. Mitchell put out the flames and carried on his work. The Mitchells, with the help of Miss Harrison, remained on the farm and not only saved their own crops, but those on evacuated farms.”