Pte Thomas Mitchell, RAMC, No5 Cdo

This message was edited 3 times. Last update was at 19/01/2012 00:46:50

It is with great sadness that we inform of the death of Pte Thomas Mitchell, RAMC, No5 Cdo, who died recently in New Zealand.

Born in Burnley Lancashire in 1921, Tom Mitchell joined the Medical Corps in 1939 and then, in 1940, joined the Norwegian Expeditionary Force and sailed on Polish ship Batory to Harstadt following which he was repatriated on the HMS Devonshire.
He was temporarily with Vice Adm. Keyes unit and was then assigned to the No11 (Scottish) Commando and then into No5 Commando, who he was with in late 1940 on the Cherbourg raids.

In 1942 he went with No5 Commando in Madagascar via South Africa (Durban), he was with the unit attacking Diego Suarez then Mujanga then on the HMS Blackmore to attack Tamatav then back to UK on the Dutch ship Boisevain.

In East Africa Tom contracted malaria so was sent to hospital in Wynberg, just outside Cape town, and eventually from there back to UK, this prevented him sailing with No5 Cdo to India. Instead he was sent to a unit in Northern Ireland to train for the Normandy landings.

Tom landed in France on 9 June 44 1944 (D+3) and moved through France, Belgium & Holland until in 1945 he found himself in Norway once more.

He was de-mobbed in 1946, but was re-called from the reserve in 1950 to serve with 'the Commandos' [41 Independant RM Cdo?] in Korea.

Our thoughts are with his family especially his daughter and son, Peter, who provided us with the information & photo.

May He Rest in Peace.

Nick

Very sad news .Another Madagascar vet. RIP