"In Italy on the night of 23rd and 24th January, 1944, a Company of
the London Scottish was ordered to carry out a local attack to restore
the situation on a portion of the main Damiano ridge. The Company attacked with two platoons forward and a composite platoon of London Scottish and Royal Berkshires in reserve. The Company Commander was wounded in the very early stages of the attack. The only other officer with the Company was
wounded soon afterwards. A section of this Company was ordered by the Platoon Commander to
carry out a right flanking movement against some enemy
machine guns which were holding up the advance. Almost as soon as he had
issued the order, he was killed. There was no
Platoon Sergeant. The section itself consisted of a Lance-Corporal and
three men, who were shortly joined by Private Mitchell, the 2-inch
mortarmen from Platoon Headquarters and another private. During the advance, the enemy opened heavy machine gun fire at
point blank range. Without hesitation, Private Mitchell dropped the
2-inch mortar which he was carrying, and seizing a rifle and bayonet,
charged, alone, up the hill through intense Spandau fire. He reached the
enemy machine gun unscathed, jumped into the weapon pit, shot one and bayoneted the other member of the crew, thus silencing the gun. As a
result, the advance of the platoon continued, but shortly afterwards the
leading section was again held up by the fire of approximately two
German sections who were strongly
entrenched. Private Mitchell, realizing that prompt action was
essential, rushed forward into the assault firing his rifle from his
hip, completely oblivious of the bullets which were sweeping the area. The remainder of his section followed him and arrived in time to
complete the capture of the position in which six Germans were killed
and twelve
made prisoner. As the section was reorganizing, another enemy machine gun opened
up on it at close range. Once more Private Mitchell rushed forward
alone and with his rifle and bayonet killed the crew. The section now found itself immediately below the crest of the
hill from which heavy small arms fire was being directed and grenades
were being thrown. Private Mitchell's ammunition was exhausted, but in
spite of this he called on the men for one further effort and again led
the assault up the steep and rocky hillside. Dashing to the front, he
was again the first man to reach the enemy position and was mainly
instrumental in forcing the remainder of the enemy to surrender. A few minutes later, a German who had surrendered, picked up a rifle and shot Private Mitchell through the head.
Throughout this operation, carried out on a very dark night, up a steep
hillside covered in rocks and scrub, Private Mitchell displayed courage
and devotion to duty of the very highest order. His complete disregard
of the enemy fire, the fearless way in which he continually exposed
himself, and his refusal to accept defeat, so inspired his comrades,
that together they succeeded in overcoming and defeating an enemy
superior in numbers, and helped by all the advantages of the ground."
From Pvt. Mitchell's Victoria Cross citation, awarded on 8 August 1944.
May you be at peace,
Brian & Mel
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