Ronald James MITCHELL

MITCHELL, Ronald James

Service Number: SX9673
Enlisted: 26 July 1940
Last Rank: Private
Last Unit: 8th Division Ammunition Sub-Park
Born: North Unley, South Australia, 27 February 1916
Home Town: St Peters (SA), Norwood Payneham St Peters, South Australia
Schooling: Not yet discovered
Occupation: Motor Sheet Metal Worker
Died: Illness whilst a Prisoner of the Japanese , Borneo, 22 June 1945, aged 29 years
Cemetery: No known grave - "Known Unto God"
Memorials: Adelaide WW2 Wall of Remembrance, Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Ballarat Australian Ex-Prisoners of War Memorial, Labuan Memorial, Labuan Federal Territory, Malaysia, Municipality of St Peters Citizens Who Have Enlisted Roll of Honour
Show Relationships

World War 2 Service

26 Jul 1940: Enlisted Private, SX9673, Adelaide, South Australia
26 Jul 1940: Enlisted Australian Military Forces (Army WW2), Private, SX9673
22 Jun 1945: Involvement Private, SX9673, 8th Division Ammunition Sub-Park, Prisoners of War
Date unknown: Involvement

Help us honour Ronald James Mitchell's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.

Biography contributed by John Edwards

"...SX9673 Private Ronald James Mitchell, 8th Division Ammunition Sub-Park, Australian Army Service Corps. Pte Mitchell was one of over 2000 Allied prisoners of war (POW) held in the Sandakan POW camp in north Borneo, having been transferred there from Singapore as a part of E Force. The 500 Australian and 500 British POWs who made up E Force, left Changi on 28 March 1943, on board the S S DeKlerk arriving at Berhala Island (adjacent to Sandakan Harbour) on 15 April 1943. The POWs were held there until 5 June, when they were taken by barge to Sandakan. The next day they were transferred to the 8 Mile Camp, which was about half a mile from the B Force compound. Private Mitchell, aged 29, died as a prisoner of the Japanese on 22 June 1945. A hand-made wooden box which Pte Mitchell received for first prize in a singing contest at Changi POW camp is held at the Australian War Memorial..." - SOURCE (www.awm.gov.au)

Read more...