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From: "Susie Zada" <>
Subject: Re: [GEELONG] James Laird Mitchell
Date: Sun, 12 Dec 2004 17:51:25 +1100
References: <000801c4d98a$7b507080$5d9d4254@psf6f> <001c01c4d9a0$95878d60$0701a8c0@Susie> <000e01c4da49$5b8495a0$65f84d51@psf6f> <018e01c4df65$d1c42480$0701a8c0@Susie> <000801c4dfe0$91881720$d12b4154@psf6f>


G'day Hugh,

Definitely not on a wild goose chase - same person - a little local
knowledge helps! <vbg>

* HMAS Demosthenes sailed from Sydney on 18th May 1916

* James Laird MITCHELL was in Geelong until 16th May 1916 when (as per his
service papers) he was transferred to Roseberry Park (military camp in
Sydney)

* There is no such place as Carfondeil anywhere in Australia - if you
recheck the Attestation Paper it is clearly stated "Copied from Nominal
Roll" and when you look at Carfondeil, Vic (Victoria) which is hand-written
it is easy to see how someone not familiar with the itty bitty place of
Carpendeit could transcribe it incorrectly as Carfondeil! I can't find a
reference to Carpendeit in 1916 but the Municipal Directory of 1925 doesn't
give it a population - just referred to as a grazing district with a post
office!

* News of the Week was only published once a week. The social items would
be written up after the event and could take a couple of weeks for the item
to hit the paper. The item on 25th May says "held recently" and the
farewell social appearing on 18th May doesn't mention a time-frame at all.
Obviously they would only hold a farewell event if someone was leaving
"soon" and as he was transferred from Geelong on 16th May then I'd say it
all fits!!!!!

So, after looking at his service papers I'm even more convinced that Pte J
MITCHELL is definitely James Laird MITCHELL! I'm afraid it would take a lot
of argument to convince me otherwise at this stage! <vbg> Not that I'd ever
dare to argue with anyone! But the evidence, particularly looking at the
hand-written "Carfondeil", James Laird Mitchell lived at Carpendeit, hence
the interest from Mrs Cox. Also, from James's service papers, he enlisted
at Geelong ........ it all fits!

Hope that helps explain some of the idiosyncracies.

All the best ....... Susie Z

----- Original Message -----
From: "HUGH McLEISH" <>
To: <>
Sent: Sunday, December 12, 2004 11:21 AM
Subject: Re: [GEELONG] James Laird Mitchell


> Hi Susie,
> Thanks for your message but I'm not sure if the J.Mitchell referred to in
> the farewell social is James Laird Mitchell.
> His name is on the embarkation list for HMAT " DEMOSTHENES " for 18th May
> 1916 leaving from Sydney and his next of kin on the list is given as Mrs J
> Binnie, my Wife's Grandmother.His unit was the 3rd division cyclists
> company. James was killed in action on 22nd Dec. 1916
> His address on the embarkation list was given as Carfondeil which was also
> given on one of his attestation papers, but a Mrs Cox of Carpendeit
enquired
> after him so I had assumed that he had lived there, and because of his
> Scottish accent he may have been misunderstood when giving his details and
> the address was transcribed wrongly.
> Are the places the same?, and if not I apologise for sending you down the
> wrong trail and thanks again for all your help.
> Regards,
> Hugh

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