Captain Coulson Norman Mitchell

View Attestation Images [2] Attestation record: Coulson Norman Mitchell

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PERSONAL INFORMATION

Name: Mitchell, Coulson Norman

Date of birth: 1889-12-11

Place of birth: Winnipeg Manitoba Canada

Next of kin: 310 Farby Street, Winnipeg

Marital status: single

Occupation (attested): Civil Engineer

Occupation (normalized): Civil Engineer, General

Religion: Presbyterian

Date of death: 1978-11-17

Buried: Pointe Claire Field Of Honour, Section M. Grave 3051

MILITARY INFORMATION

Regimental number: 596

Highest Rank: Captain (4th Battalion, Canadian Engineers)

Rank detail

Sapper (Army). 1915-01-21 ?
Lance Corporal (Army).
Sergeant (Army).
Captain (Army).
Lieutenant (Army). 1916-07-01 ?
Captain, 4th Battalion, Canadian Engineers, Canadian Engineers (Army). 1918-05-24 to 1919-04-01
Second Lieutenant (Army). 1916-04-28 to 1916-07-01

Degree of service: Europe

Survived war: yes

Commemoration location: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coulson_Norman_Mitchell

Awards

Victoria Cross (Canal L'Escaut)
Description: "For most conspicuous bravery and devotion to duty on the night of 8th-9th October, 1918, at the Canal de L'Escaut, north-east of Cambrai. He led a small party ahead of the first wave of infantry in order to examine the various bridges on the line of approach and, if possible, to prevent their demolition. On reaching the canal he found the bridge already blown up. Under a heavy barrage he crossed to the next bridge, where he cut a number of ‘lead' wires. Then in total darkness, and unaware of the position or strength of the enemy at the bridgehead, he dashed across the main bridge over the canal. This bridge was found to be heavily charged for demolition, and whilst Capt. Mitchell, assisted by his N.C.O., was cutting the wires, the enemy attempted to rush the bridge in order to blow the charges, whereupon he at once dashed to the assistance of his sentry, who had been wounded, killed three of the enemy, captured 12, and maintained the bridgehead until reinforced. Then under heavy fire he continued his task of cutting wires and removing charges, which he well knew might at any moment have been fired by the enemy. It was entirely due to his valour and decisive action that this important bridge across the canal was saved from destruction."
Date of award: 1919-01-31
Date of award: 1918-10-09
Source: London Gazette/ Library and Archives Canada - Medals, Honours and Awards
Comment: On 8/9 October 1918 at the Canal de L'Escaut, north-east of Cambrai, France, Captain Mitchell led a small party to examine the bridges and if possible prevent their demolition. He managed to cut a number of 'lead' wires on one bridge, then in total darkness he dashed across the main bridge which was heavily charged. While he and his NCO were cutting the wires the enemy attacked, whereupon the captain at once went to the assistance of his sentry who had been wounded, killing three of the enemy and capturing 12. Under heavy fire he then continued to cut the wires and remove charges.
Notes: Canadian Forces School of Military Engineering at CFB Gagetown, New Brunswick

Military Cross (The Bluff, Ypres Salient)
Date of award: 1916-12-01
Source: Library and Archives Canada - Medals, Honours and Awards

RESEARCH INFORMATION

LAC ID: 186936

Attestation record(s): image 1, image 2

Service file: B6248-S044

Uploader's Notes:

Coulson Norman Mitchell was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba, on December 11, 1889 the son of Captain Coulson Nicholas Mitchell(1854-1950) and Mary Jane (Ptolemy)Mitchel(1859-1943).He graduated from the University of Manitoba, with a degree in engineering in 1912, and worked for a company involved in projects in Manitoba and British Columbia. In November 1914, he enlisted in the Canadian Engineers as a sapper, then transferred to a signal company. Just before going overseas in 1915, he transferred to the Canadian Railway Construction Corps.His two brothers Lieutenant Stanley Hall Mitchell (1886-1915) and Captain Gladstone "Ivan" Mitchell(1892-) also served in the First World War

Mitchell was promoted to sergeant in November 1915, then received his commission as a lieutenant in April 1916. In December 1916, he was awarded the Military Cross for his actions at "The Bluff", in the Ypres Salient, in Belgium. In May 1917, he was promoted to Captain.Mitchell was in action on October 8-9, 1918, in France with the 1st Tunneling Company, Canadian Engineers.Captain Mitchell sailed for Canada on 14 April 1919 and married Gertrude Hazel Bishop (1890-1985) on 8 November 1922. This couple later moved to Montreal. Coulson Norman Mitchell served with the Royal Canadian Engineers inn the Second World War . He was posted to Camp Chilliwack BC from 1944 to 1948 where a plaque in his Honour was unveiled on 12 October 1973. Coulson N Mitchel retired from the Canadian forces with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel and the only Canadian Military Engineer to win the Victoria Cross. LTC Mitchell died in Montreal on 17 November 1978. Coulson Norman Mitchell and his wife Gertrude are both buried in the National Field of Honour Cemetery in Pointe Claire located in greater Montreal Quebec.

Uploader's Research notes: [Sapper Army Canadian Engineers 2nd Divisional Signals Company 2nd Signal Company Lance Corporal Army Canadian Engineers 2nd Divisional Signals Company 2nd Signal Company Sergeant Army Canadian Engineers 2nd Divisional Signals Company 2nd Signal Company Second Lieutenant Army Canadian Engineers Canadian Engineers Lieutenant Army Canadian Engineers No. 1 Tunnelling Company Captain Army Canadian Engineers No. 1 Tunnelling Company Captain Army Canadian Engineers 4th Battalion, Canadian Engineers Victoria Cross Canal L'Escaut "For most conspicuous bravery and devotion to duty on the night of 8th-9th October, 1918, at the Canal de L'Escaut, north-east of Cambrai. He led a small party ahead of the first wave of infantry in order to examine the various bridges on the line of approach and, if possible, to prevent their demolition. On reaching the canal he found the bridge already blown up. Under a heavy barrage he crossed to the next bridge, where he cut a number of ‘lead' wires. Then in total darkness, and unaware of the position or strength of the enemy at the bridgehead, he dashed across the main bridge over the canal. This bridge was found to be heavily charged for demolition, and whilst Capt. Mitchell, assisted by his N.C.O., was cutting the wires, the enemy attempted to rush the bridge in order to blow the charges, whereupon he at once dashed to the assistance of his sentry, who had been wounded, killed three of the enemy, captured 12, and maintained the bridgehead until reinforced. Then under heavy fire he continued his task of cutting wires and removing charges, which he well knew might at any moment have been fired by the enemy. It was entirely due to his valour and decisive action that this important bridge across the canal was saved from destruction." On 8/9 October 1918 at the Canal de L'Escaut, north-east of Cambrai, France, Captain Mitchell led a small party to examine the bridges and if possible prevent their demolition. He managed to cut a number of 'lead' wires on one bridge, then in total darkness he dashed across the main bridge which was heavily charged. While he and his NCO were cutting the wires the enemy attacked, whereupon the captain at once went to the assistance of his sentry who had been wounded, killing three of the enemy and capturing 12. Under heavy fire he then continued to cut the wires and remove charges. Military Cross The Bluff, Ypres Salient ]

ARCHIVAL INFORMATION

Date added: 2011-05-15

Last modified: 2017-07-27