Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Six: Chief Petty Officer J. Mitchell, Royal Navy, attached Royal Australian Navy, who was awarded the Naval Good Shooting Medal whilst serving in H.M.A.S. Australia in 1913, the first time an official medal was awarded and named to an H.M. Australian Ship

East and West Africa 1887-1900, 1 clasp, Benin 1897 (J. Mitchell, Ord. H.M.S. Theseus.); 1914-15 Star (179801 J. Mitchell, C.P.O., R.N.); British War and Victory Medals (179801 J. Mitchell. C.P.O. R.N.); Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., E.VII.R. (179801 John Mitchell, P.O. H.M.S. Astræa.); Naval Good Shooting Medal, G.V.R. (R.A.N. 8118 J. Mitchell, P.O., H.M.A.S. Australia. 1913. 12in. B.L.) contact marks and minor edge bruising to the pre-Great War awards, generally very fine and better, the last rare (6) £1,200-£1,600

H.M.A.S. Australia was the first capital ship of the Royal Australian Navy, and was commissioned on 21 June 1913. The Royal Australian Navy was first engaged during the Great War; consequently, the Naval Good Shooting Medal awarded to H.M.A.S. Australia in 1913 is likely to be the very first medal ever awarded and named to an H.M. Australian Ship.

John Mitchell was born at Foscoway, Clackmannanshire, on 3 May 1878 and joined the Royal Navy as a Boy Second Class on 20 may 1894. He served in H.M.S. Theseus from 14 January 1896, and was rated Ordinary Seaman from 3 May 1896. He was advanced Petty Officer First Class on 25 April 1904, and was awarded his Long Service and Good Conduct Medal on 22 May 1911. He was seconded to the Royal Australian Navy for three years from 24 May 1913, and served throughout that period in H.M.A.S. Australia. He spent the rest of the War in various shore based establishments, and was shore pensioned on 2 May 1918, joining the Royal Fleet Reserve the following day.