George Mitchell (New Zealand)

Lieutenant Colonel George Mitchell DSO (1877 - 1939) was an Independent Member of Parliament for Wellington South in New Zealand.

Member of Parliament

George Mitchell represented the Wellington South electorate in the House of Representatives from 1919 to 1922. [(Wilson, p.220 & Wood, p.98)]

Independent

Mitchell was the sensation of the 1919 election defeating the Labour MP, Bob Semple, who had won Wellington South in the previous year at a by-election. [(Bassett, p.25)]

Military Service

Boer War

George Mitchell was a member of the Balclutha Mounted Rifles in 1898. He served with the 1st and 8th New Zealand Contingents in South Africa 1899-1902. Mitchell was awarded the Queen's South Africa Medal with relief of Kimberley, Paardeberg, Driefontein, Transvaal and South Africa 1902 Clasps. [(The New Zealand Roll of Honour, p.751)]

World War I

Mitchell was part of the 1st New Zealand Expeditionary Force 1914-1919. He was a major in the Southland Regiment and commanding officer of the 3rd Otago Reserve Battalion in 1917-19; reaching the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. Mitchell saw action in Gallipoli and France. He received the DSO in 1918 for distinguished service in the field (France and Flanders). He was awarded the Serbian Order of Karageorge, 4th Class with Swords; 1914-15 Star; British War Medal; Victory Medal; Colonial Auxiliary Forces Long Service Medal; and NZ Territorial Service Medal. [(NZPD, 30 June 1939)]

Community Service

Mitchell was a member of the Wellington City Council (1923-25 and 1927-31), Wellington Harbour Board (1921-29) and Wellington College Board of Governors. He was President of the Returned Soldiers' Association (RSA) and an executive member of the War Relief Association. [(The Dominion, 18 March 1939)]

He died 16 March 1939 in Wellington.

References

Further reading

* "Three Party Politics in New Zealand, 1911-1931" by Michael Bassett (1982, Historical Publications, Auckland)
* "New Zealand Parliamentary Record 1840-1984" by J.O. Wilson (1985, Government Printer, Wellington)
* "Ministers and Members in the New Zealand Parliament" Edited by G.A. Wood (1996, Otago University Press, Dunedin)